Hoyt to Receive Jail Sentence Today

SAN DIEGO — LaMarr Hoyt, the Padre pitcher arrested for transporting illegal drugs into the United States last October, will be sentenced today in U.S. District Court here.

Hoyt and his attorney, Howard Frank, will be entitled to read statements at the sentencing in front of U.S. Magistrate Roger Curtis McKee. Frank says his statement will be of some consequence, particularly because Peter Ueberroth, the commissioner of baseball, will soon decide Hoyt’s future in the game.

“See, there’s going to be a lot of facts that will be able to come out after (the sentencing),” Frank said Monday. “And the facts will be helpful for anyone about to make a decision concerning LaMarr. There will be some things we’ll present to the court which I hope will help the court to have a better appreciation of LaMarr’s situation.

“I’m not sure (the facts) will be that enlightening, but it’ll be our sincere effort to try to put the whole thing into a perspective that will make some kind of sense.”

The felony charges from Hoyt’s arrest were reduced to misdemeanors as part of a plea bargain, and Hoyt agreed to spend 60 days to a year in jail.

Hoyt, who turns 32 on Jan. 1, has been arrested three times in the last year--three times for possession of marijuana and twice for possession of Valium tablets. The first two times came within 10 days of each other last February.

After that, the Padres coerced him into entering a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Later in the season, Hoyt said that he had no drug or alcohol problem, but was only emotionally upset over a pending divorce.

He and his wife, Sylvia, later got back together.

“How is LaMarr right now? I’d say he’s reacting the way I think any human being would at the probability of going into custody,” Frank said. “There’s a lot of apprehension.

“I really don’t know how long he’ll be sentenced for. The only thing I can tell you is that the judge has the power to sentence him any way he wants. I just don’t know.”

Hoyt has been undergoing weekly drug tests. According to Pat Swan, the prosecuting attorney, those results will be made public today.

Hoyt was unavailable for comment Monday, and Frank said he doubted that the ballplayer would answer questions after the sentencing. Hoyt is expected to begin serving his sentence in early January.