Judge May Cut Ex-Track Star’s Prison Sentence in Steroid Case

A federal judge Monday took under consideration a request to substantially reduce the seven-year prison sentence being served by former Olympic track star David Jenkins, 37, for his part in a steroid smuggling conspiracy.

U. S. District Judge J. Lawrence Irving said he would rule on the request later this week.

In a surprise move, Assistant U. S. Atty. Phil Halpern did not oppose the reduction request made by Robert Grimes, Jenkins’ attorney.

Grimes urged that Jenkins be sentenced to the time he has spent in jail, 315 days. Halpern said the sentence could be reduced so that Jenkins would serve only a year in prison. “I feel confident Mr. Jenkins has learned his lesson here,” Halpern told the court.

“I certainly agree with that,” the judge replied.

Halpern said, “I think he greatly assisted the government” and “demonstrated a certain remorse.” He added that Jenkins was not a danger to society.

Jenkins was a member of the British Silver Medal-winning 1,600-meter relay team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

The judge Monday rejected a suggestion that Jenkins’ sentence be modified to include community service so that he could speak to youth groups about drugs.

Jenkins pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States, possession of steroids and holding counterfeit steroids as the result of a scheme to distribute steroids smuggled from Mexico.

He was sentenced to prison in December and also fined $10,000. Time spent in jail before his sentencing was credited against the sentence.

Jenkins, who lived in Del Mar, has been held at the federal prison camp in Boron. He owns a vitamin packaging business in Carlsbad.