Crack Dealer Facing New Sentencing Delay

A federal judge delayed sentencing Pacoima crack dealer Bobbie Marshall on Monday, continuing a twisted legal odyssey that dates back seven years.

U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. said he will decide Nov. 18 whether to pass the Marshall case to another judge or to impose the required nine-year prison sentence himself.

Hatter has repeatedly refused to sentence Marshall because the judge believes that the nine-year term mandated by federal sentencing guidelines is too severe.

Marshall--who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center--was arrested in 1989 and was subsequently convicted of possessing 53 grams of crack cocaine.

The case has become a cause celebre among community stalwarts in the northeast San Fernando Valley, including Rep. Howard Berman (D-Panorama City), who believe Marshall is more valuable to the community out of jail than behind bars.

While he was out on bail in the early 1990s, Marshall impressed many neighborhood leaders by helping to keep peace during the 1992 riots, working with gangs and volunteering at schools.

On Monday, Rick Drooyin, chief of the criminal division of the U.S. attorney’s office, said he was not frustrated with the latest delay in sentencing Marshall.

“Obviously, we’d like to get it resolved,” he said. “But the judge is taking this case seriously and wants to look into it further.”

Bobbie Marshall’s mother, Daisy Marshall, and his wife, Sandra Johnson Marshall, also said they would like the case to be resolved soon.

“All we can do is wait and pray,” said Daisy Marshall.