FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Former Arkansas defensive lineman and
co-captain Jermaine Brooks, sentenced to 10 years in prison for
drug-related convictions, could be eligible for parole in less than
two years, prosecutors said.
Brooks, 23, of Pasadena, Calif., had a sad expression on his
face as he appeared with his lawyer before Circuit Judge William
Storey and pleaded guilty Wednesday to four felony drug charges.
The former athlete made no statement to the judge in entering
his plea, and said afterward he still hopes he can play
professional football.
"There have been other players who've been in trouble with the
law but gotten in the NFL,'' Brooks told the Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette afterward. "I'm hoping that will be the case for
me. If not, then God has a better plan for me.''
Brooks pleaded guilty to one count of delivery of a controlled
substance (marijuana), one count of possession of a controlled
substance with intent to deliver, one count of possession of drug
paraphernalia, and one count of theft by receiving.
The judge sentenced Brooks to 10 years on each count but
suspended the sentence on the theft conviction and said the
sentences on the other three convictions would run concurrently.
Brooks could be eligible for parole in 1½ to 2 years, Washington
County Deputy Prosecutor John Threet said. The Arkansas Department
of Correction will have the final word on the parole date.
"This is a sad situation,'' the judge told Brooks. "You had
obtained a degree that would have opened a lot of doors, and you
apparently were well on your way to another degree that would have
opened more doors. But by doing this, the doors slammed shut.''
Brooks was in graduate school at the time of his arrest.
The judge gave Brooks 30 days to report to the Washington County
jail March 24 to begin serving his sentence.
Brooks originally was charged with seven felony counts. He was
arrested Oct. 22 after undercover police allegedly bought marijuana
from him at his off-campus apartment. Police said Brooks either
sold or possessed 10½ pounds of marijuana. During a raid that same
day, officers seized several guns and nearly $17,000 in cash.
Brooks said he sold the drugs as a way to make easy money.
:I thought I'd just get in and out and make a quick buck,'' he
told the newspaper. "That didn't happen. Selling marijuana or weed
or whatever you call it, only made matters worse.''
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt kicked Brooks off the team after
learning of the arrest. Brooks, who graduated last May with a
degree in industrial technology, also was expelled from Arkansas'
graduate-school program.
"I'm hopeful that Jermaine will use this time to move on with
his life in the right direction,'' Nutt said. "He will continue to
face the consequences of his actions, but he will have a chance to
rebuild his future in a positive fashion after making a grave
mistake. I hope he will do that.''
Brooks said he wants to finish a master's degree in education so
he can work with children.
"I'd like to be a superintendent of a high school in the inner
city where kids are underprivileged,'' Brooks said. "I think I
could have a powerful voice.''
Brooks started all six games for Arkansas in 2002 before his
arrest. In the 2001 season, Brooks started seven of 11 games and
had 56 tackles.
Wednesday was Brooks' trial date, but he reached the plea
agreement with the prosecution instead.
"It's a bad situation all around,'' Threet said.
Brooks' lawyer, W.H. Taylor, said he will try to get Brooks into
a boot camp-style prison near Little Rock, but the waiting list was
three to four months. Brooks would have to serve time at a state
prison before being transferred to the boot camp, the deputy
prosecutor said.
If accepted to the boot camp, Brooks' time behind bars could be
shorter, anywhere from nine to 18 months. Then he could spend the
remainder of his sentence on parole, Threet said.