Ex-Cowboy Newton gets 5 years for drug possession
Posted on 12/10/2002 3:28:37 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Ex-Cowboy Newton gets 5 years for drug possession
12/10/2002
ST. MARTINVILLE, La. - Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton, already serving a federal drug sentence in Texas, was sentenced to five years in prison Monday for possession of 213 pounds of marijuana in Louisiana.
Judge Don Hernandez initially tried to suspend all but 30 months of Mr. Newton's sentence but changed his mind after prosecutors said the mandatory minimum sentence was five years. Prosecutors had argued for a sentence of 15 to 20 years.
Judge Hernandez told Mr. Newton that he could still be a positive role model for children and for his fans.
"I will be. I promise you that," Mr. Newton said.
Mr. Newton also received a $50,000 fine.
He is serving a 30-month federal sentence on a drug-trafficking charge and could finish it in 19 months. Mr. Newton pleaded guilty in April to the charge in federal court in Dallas as part of a plea agreement.
Mr. Newton, 40, was free on bail from the Louisiana arrest when authorities stopped him in Ellis County on Dec. 12. They found $10,000 in his red pickup and 175 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of an accompanying car driven by a Garland man.
He will serve his Louisiana sentence concurrently with the federal sentence.
Mr. Newton's Louisiana arrest came in November 2001, after he and two women were pulled over for a traffic violation on Interstate 10 in St. Martin Parish. Mr. Newton and the others were accused of hauling the marijuana with plans to sell it.
Mr. Newton is a six-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman. He spent 14 seasons in the NFL, 13 of those with Dallas. He retired in 2000 after a season with Carolina.
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| Nate Newton was caught not once, but twice with large amounts of marijuana. |
Ah, ole' Sheriff Charles Fuselier got him another evil dope smoker.
I wonder what happened with the 38 lbs. of weed that apparently disappeared between arrest and conviction?
213 pounds of marijuana in St. Martin Parish Louisiana.
when authorities stopped him in Ellis County on Dec. 12. They found $10,000 in his red pickup and 175 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of an accompanying car driven by a Garland man.
Dude, Newton was busted twice, in LA & TX. There is no missing dope.
It's too bad the mystery is solved, because I was going to say it looks like he ate it.
That must be some serious case of glaucoma?
As far as posing a threat to anyone on an individual basis, that's a whole different argument.
Naturally, I was glad Dallas lost, since I loathe the Cowboys. But it was a really stupid play on Lett's part- almost as bad as the Lions' James Stewart spiking a live ball this weekend. Sheesh.
FYI, I *did* cheer for Dallas for the very first time this year when they played the Redskins on Thanksgiving. I loathe Steve Spurrier even more than the Cowboys.
"He will serve his Louisiana sentence concurrently with the federal sentence (of 30 months)."
If the judge had his way, therefore, ole Nate would not have served one additional day for the new crime. His punishment? A $50K fine.
Prime example of why the feds came up with mandatory minimums.
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