Pubdate: Fri, 10 Nov 2000
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2000, The Tribune Co.
Contact:  http://www.tampatrib.com/
Forum: http://tampabayonline.net/interact/welcome.htm
Author: Lyda Longa, Tampa Tribune

STRAWBERRY SENT TO JAIL, CANCER TREATMENT

Former baseball great Darryl Strawberry, already in jail for 
violating probation, will be sent to prison unless he buckles down 
and adheres to his chemotherapy treatment, a Hillsborough County 
circuit judge vowed Thursday.

Strawberry, who has been in the county jail since Oct. 25 for going 
on a drug binge, told Judge Florence Foster that he had learned his 
lesson.

But Foster sentenced him to another two weeks in jail, followed by 
two years' house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor and one year 
of probation after that.

The eight-time All-Star will most likely be released from jail next 
week, however. He will get credit for time already served, plus an 
automatic five-day credit given to nonviolent offenders to ease jail 
crowding.

Prosecutors from the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office criticized 
Foster's decision.

"The sentence is too light,'' said assistant prosecutor Robin Fuson. 
"This is his third violation.''

It was the second time in less than two weeks that the 38-year-old 
former New York Yankees outfielder has appeared before Foster. He 
told her last week that he had lost his will to live and stopped his 
chemotherapy treatment in jail. He underwent surgery this year for 
colon cancer, and lost a kidney.

Strawberry is in custody for violating probation by breaking curfew 
and using drugs. He allegedly left a Tampa residential drug treatment 
center to smoke crack cocaine and pop antidepressants with a woman.

A handful of supporters tried to convince Foster on Thursday that 
prison is not the place for Strawberry.

And though he did not testify, New York Yankees pitcher Dwight Gooden 
sat in the courtroom in support of Strawberry, too.

The key witness at Thursday's hearing was John LaPook, a New York 
internist who diagnosed Strawberry's colon cancer two years ago. 
LaPook, testifying via telephone, recommended that Strawberry be sent 
to Minnesota to the renowned Hazelden facility for drug and alcohol 
addiction and the Mayo Clinic for his cancer.

But Strawberry rejected that, telling Foster no one was "going to run 
him out of Tampa.''

Handcuffed and dressed in orange and blue county jail clothes and 
looking resigned, Strawberry made an impassioned plea to Foster, 
saying he was ready to commit to his recovery.

"I can't run from myself anymore,'' he said. "I understand the bottom 
that I've hit. I have to be responsible for my recovery.''

Once he is released from jail, Strawberry will have to live at the 
Health Care Connection of Tampa, a substance abuse treatment center 
that he walked away from last month.

He will also undergo chemotherapy at the Moffitt Cancer Center.

Strawberry was arrested last year for cocaine possession and 
soliciting a prostitute. He tested positive for cocaine in January 
and was suspended from baseball, then was involved in a hit-and-run 
accident in September while taking prescription drugs.
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