Hoyt Pleads Guilty to Possession of Drugs, Receives Sentence
LaMarr Hoyt, a former Cy Young Award-winning pitcher, pleaded guilty Thursday to possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.
He was sentenced by Special Judge Frank Eppes to 2 1/2 years in prison. Eppes suspended the term to seven months and ordered that the sentence be concurrent with a sentence Hoyt must serve for a probation violation.
The Columbia native was arrested Dec. 5 at his apartment and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana.
Richland County sheriff’s deputies believed at the time that Hoyt possessed two grams of cocaine. Possession of 0.65 grams is enough to warrant a distribution charge, which carries a heavier penalty than possession.
Assistant Circuit Solicitor Jay Ervin said the cocaine actually weighed about 0.65 grams.
“He was willing to admit it was cocaine,” Ervin said, and prosecutors agreed to allow the possession plea.
Hoyt will begin serving a year in federal prison Feb. 22 for a probation violation in California, Ervin said. Hoyt violated the conditions of his parole from a 1986 conviction when he test positive for cocaine use.
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