Ravenel in outpatient treatment while awaiting trial

Former state treasurer back in Charleston

COLUMBIA — Former state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel will continue outpatient treatment as he returns to his business and awaits a November trial, his attorneys said Monday.

Ravenel, who was indicted on a federal cocaine charge in June, has been back in the Charleston area for "some time," said Gedney Howe, one of Ravenel's attorneys. Howe said he did not know exactly when Ravenel arrived after checking out of a treatment center in New Mexico.

"He will continue an intensive outpatient program for at least another 90 days," Howe said.

Ravenel's attorneys have not specified the type of treatment he is receiving. But, according to its Web site, Life Healing Center in Santa Fe specializes in traumatic issues and offers care for chemical dependency and a variety of other issues including eating disorders and sex addiction.

Ravenel, 45, is owner of the Ravenel Development Corp., a commercial real estate development company he founded in 1992. The multimillionaire was elected treasurer in November, but resigned July 24. He is free on $100,000 bond but must submit to random drug tests and refrain from excessive use of alcohol, among other conditions.

Ravenel was scheduled to appear today in a Columbia federal courtroom for a pretrial conference but Chief U.S. District Judge Joseph Anderson granted a continuance Monday at the request of both prosecutors and defense attorneys. "Everyone needed more time," said Bart Daniel, one of Ravenel's attorneys. "We needed more time. The government needed more time."

The trial is set to begin on Nov. 8. The pretrial conference will also be rescheduled but no date has been set.

Ravenel was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 19 for a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine. He is charged with sharing the cocaine, not selling it.

The former treasurer entered an Arizona treatment facility June 22 and was not present for his July 6 arraignment. His attorneys offered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.

The Legislature elected Rep. Converse Chellis, R-Summerville, to fill the rest of Ravenel's term, which expires in January 2011.

Michael L. Miller, 25, a self-employed deejay from Mount Pleasant, was named alongside Ravenel in the indictment and also pleaded not guilty. Miller remained in custody Monday at the Charleston County Detention Center on a state charge of trafficking cocaine.

If convicted on the federal charge, both Ravenel and Miller could face a $1 million fine and up to 20 years in prison.

Reach Yvonne M. Wenger at ywenger@postandcourier.com or 803-799-9051.