Former Hog to serve 15 years on drug charges
Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/67468/
A member of University of Arkansas Razorbacks national championship basketball team agreed to serve 15 years in prison in a negotiated plea on Thursday.
Elmer Martin Jr., 36, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine ), possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (both cocaine and Ecstasy ), possession of drug paraphernalia and a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.
Martin was sentenced to a total of 30 years — 15 in the Department of Correction and 15 suspended — by 4 th Judicial Circuit Judge William Storey.
Martin was a letterman for the UA basketball team from 1992-95 and was a member of the 1994 national championship team.
By entering the plea, Martin avoided the possibility of more jail time if the case went to trial. Four of the drug charges each carried
potential prison time of 10 to 40 years or life.
During two weeks in February and March, detectives with the 4 th Judicial Drug Task Force made two controlled buys to obtain 14 grams of cocaine from Martin using Task Force funds, according to an affidavit filed in the case.
During the search of his home at 1393 N. Fieldstone Ave. in Fayetteville, police seized 20 grams of suspected cocaine, 21 Ecstasy pills, 16 grams of suspected marijuana, digital scales and a. 380 handgun with magazine, police records show.
David Harris, 4 th Judicial District deputy prosecutor, said that it is unfortunate when someone with so much talent and potential turns to crime, but they too must be held accountable under the law.
“ They have got to be treated like every one else, ” he said.