Ralph A. Backhaus, 51, a professor of biology at Arizona State University at Tempe, pleaded guilty last week to attempting to transport drugs for sale and also launder money in connection with an alleged ecstasy ring currently on campus.
In October of 2001, Backhaus was arrested after a two-month investigation took place and two undercover police officers bought the drug from him.
This past November Backhaus changed his plea from not guilty to guilty in an agreement made with prosecuting attorneys. However, the professor didn’t plead guilty until last Friday according to university spokesman Keith Jennings.
The chemicals and equipment necessary to manufacture the illegal substance were allegedly bought and used by the professor through a university foundation fund. Backhaus’ teaching assistant, Clayton Atom Prepsky, at the time helped manufacture the drug and was using university property to do so.
Prepsky, 29, of Tempe and Kurt Baker of California also pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the manufacturing operation. The professor told investigators Prepsky helped with his financing but cut it off when he began to suspect Prepsky was into something illegal.
Backhaus also traveled to California with Prepsky, who was carrying the drug, where money was put into an ASU foundation fund in part for Ecstasy and in part for research.
According to police officials, they were aware of two other states in which the Ecstasy ring had traveled into, California and Idaho.
An offense of this magnitude landed Backhaus with 11 felony charges of manufacturing and selling illegal drugs along with laundering and criminal racketeering. This offense has also put Backhaus on unpaid leave from the university.
Under the plea deal, Backhaus will spend 30 days in jail and be placed on probation for three to five years. Sentencing is scheduled for March 12.
Backhaus was an active part of ASU’s staff. He came to ASU in 1977 to work in the department of plant biology from his stay at the University of California at Davis.
However, Jennings said Backhaus has been on leave since last March and the university is unsure of the next step that will be taken.
“We are just waiting for the criminal case to be resolved,” Jennings said.
Nationwide, Ecstasy use has continued to rise among students, especially college-age students with availability of the drug increasing as well. Ecstasy rings of this sort contribute to the problem of use. However, the drug is primarily manufactured in the Netherlands.
The Drug Enforcement Administration estimates approximately 80 percent of the illegal substance comes from labs in this area and that the increased availability of the drug is what has increased use of the substance.
The 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported the heaviest ecstasy users to be young adults of “traditional college age,” 18 to 25 years old. Five percent had reported using the drug at least once in their lifetime.
Other studies since the extensive one done in 1998 show similar results with use increasing among all students, especially those of college age.
