Pubdate: Thu, 12 Apr 2001
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2001 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Sara Kennedy

STRAWBERRY UNABLE TO APPEAR IN COURT

TAMPA, Fla. -- Darryl Strawberry has "very severe depression" and will be 
physically unable to appear in court for at least three weeks, his lawyer 
told a judge today during a hearing.

Judge Florence Foster of Hillsborough County Circuit Court set a date of 
May 4 for the next hearing on whether Strawberry had violated his probation 
on a drug-related conviction. His lawyer, Joseph H. Ficarrotta, said it was 
his intention that Strawberry would admit at some point to a probation 
violation.

After the hearing, Assistant State Attorney Darrell Dirks said he would 
recommend that Strawberry be sentenced to prison "based upon what we know 
about Mr. Strawberry and his criminal history."

In September, Strawberry, 39, was sentenced to two years of house arrest at 
a drug treatment facility after crashing his car while driving under the 
influence of sleeping pills, and for violating his probation. Strawberry 
disappeared from the center for four days before surrendering to the police 
in April. He was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital. Strawberry remains in 
seclusion at the hospital while receiving a potent new medication 
prescribed by a psychiatrist, Ficarrotta told the judge.

When the judge asked if the new medication would affect Strawberry's 
ability to understand a court hearing, Ficarrotta replied, "In talking to 
him, some days, he's very coherent; some days, he's not."

Ficarrotta said Strawberry was under the care of a psychiatrist, and he 
submitted a letter detailing Strawberry's medical situation.

Strawberry has battled addiction for years, and in 1998 he learned he had 
colon cancer. He undergoes chemotherapy three times a month, in addition to 
treatment for addiction, Ficarrotta said before the hearing at the 
Hillsborough County Courthouse Annex.

"It makes him real sick," Ficarrotta said. "Anxiety and depression triggers 
the craving for drugs; and drug addiction has a reverse effect on the chemo."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth