Black Changes Plea to Guilty in Drug Case

Martel Black, who played fullback at the University of Utah and Sweetwater High School, and fellow student Samuel Simmons changed their pleas to guilty Tuesday regarding federal drug distribution and possession charges.

Black, a student at Utah, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing cocaine to a person under 21 and another count of possession with intent to distribute a kilo of cocaine. Sentencing was set for Jan. 3.

Black and Samuel had pleaded innocent after their arrest in August. Seven additional charges were dropped in exchange for cooperating in a continuing investigation.

Ron Dean, a defensive back for the 12th-ranked Wyoming Cowboys who also played at Chula Vista High School and Southwestern College, has been suspended indefinitely from the team after being charged with unlawful use of a credit card.

Tom Barb, of the Albany County (Wyo.)attorney’s office, said Dean was charged Tuesday in connection with a Sept. 15 incident in which he allegedly used a credit card he found on the Wyoming campus to withdraw about $200 from a Laramie bank.

Dean had been suspended from the team a week ago by Coach Paul Roach pending a clarification of another alleged misconduct.

HOLIDAY BOWL

The Holiday Bowl will boost its guaranteed payout to $850,000 for each college competing in the Dec. 30 football game in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. The bowl game ranked 10th in payments last year when Wyoming and Iowa each received $771,000.

The additional money will come from increasing ticket prices $2.50 (from $22.50 to $25) and increased funds from Sea World, the bowl’s principal sponsor.