by Benjamin Israel
staff editor

Darwin Butler, the president of the Student Government Association, probably won't be on campus this semester. Butler, who is currently serving time in the St. Louis County Justice Center has registered for classes, but at least one instructor reports that Butler has asked to take the class by correspondence.

In addition, Butler has filed legal papers with both St. Louis County Circuit Court and U. S. District Court asking to be extradited to Nevada to face charges there.

Butler is serving a one-year sentence in St. Louis County after pleading guilty to buying a computer with a stolen credit card. In addition, he is on probation in Nevada after pleading guilty to stealing his former girlfriend's car keys and necklace in Carson City. He faces a two-year suspended sentence there.

On Nov. 17, Butler filed a paper in Judge David Lee Vincent's court in St. Louis County "requesting that the sending state (Missouri) deliver my person to the receiving state (Nevada) in order that speedy and efficient prosecution may be had."

On Dec. 22, Butler filed suit in federal court against Calzona Hall, director of justice services in St. Louis County, asking a federal judge to order that Butler be "extradited to Nevada as soon as possible," according to court papers.

Hall said in a telephone interview that he can only follow a court order, and the court has ordered Butler held until his sentence runs out. According to court papers, Butler began serving his one-year sentence on April 23, 1999. Judge Vincent approved a work-release arrangement on May 14 allowing Butler to attend school at UM-St. Louis. Butler had just been elected SGA president.

On Oct. 21, 1999, Judge Vincent revoked Butler's work release for driving with a suspended driver's license, driving without insurance, and testing positive for alcohol in a breathalyzer test.

Butler cannot leave the jail until his one-year sentence is up unless the jail releases him early for good behavior, said Colleen Blake, clerk in Judge Vincent's court. After the sentence is completed, he will be extradited, Blake said, so Butler cannot expect to bee a free man until Nevada releases him.

However, Butler has registered for school this semester, including for two classes with Sid Savan of the communications department. Savan said Butler wrote to him requesting that he be allowed to take the classes by correspondence. Savan said he would consult with his department head to see if an arrangement could be worked out.

Butler could not be reached for comment. Hall said he would relay a message to Butler, but Butler did not respond.