Guilty Plea Entered in Baylor Basketball Player's Murder
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:42 pmThe tortuous murder saga that exposed an athletic scandal at Baylor University drew to a sudden close Wednesday when former basketball player Carlton Dotson unexpectedly pleaded guilty to killing his teammate two years ago.
Mr. Dotson's open plea – meaning there was no deal for leniency – surprised prosecutors, his family and the family of victim Patrick Dennehy. Mr. Dotson faces five to 99 years or life in prison. He will be sentenced by state District Judge Ralph Strother next Wednesday.
Jury selection was to have started Friday for Mr. Dotson's trial. McLennan County District Attorney John Segrest said he was "as shocked as anybody" when the plea developed Wednesday.
"Generally, a plea of guilty, open to the court and in a murder case, is not what you're anticipating," Mr. Segrest said.
Defense attorney Russell Hunt Sr. said he had been negotiating with prosecutors "for some time, and it just all seemed to come together."
But Mr. Segrest said he would not budge from the original charge.
Also Online
Dan Ronan reports
"That's as much as we were willing to do. It was murder, and it would be a plea of guilty," he said.
Asked how his client benefits from the plea, Mr. Hunt said he expects "that the judge is going to do something reasonable."
Mr. Dennehy's stepfather, Brian Brabazon, said he hopes "the judge doesn't go lenient on him."
"You just look at that guy, and he looks like an instrument of the devil," Mr. Brabazon said.
Mr. Brabazon, who is now divorced from Mr. Dennehy's mother, said he plans to attend the sentencing.
"I want to look at Carlton in person," he said. "But I kind of wish it would have gone to trial. Even though he's admitted doing it, it really doesn't make me feel that much better because I want to know why."
No motive has ever been made public for the killing.
"Probably, we'll know after the sentencing," Mr. Dotson's attorney said.
The defense might not have had much to work with.
Weeks after Mr. Dennehy was reported missing in June 2003, a disoriented Mr. Dotson was arrested in Maryland. Police said Mr. Dotson had admitted to authorities that he shot Mr. Dennehy, 21, while the two friends were firing guns; Mr. Dotson later denied making a confession.
Mr. Dennehy's body was found six weeks later in a Texas gravel pit with two bullet wounds to the head.
The murder investigation revealed scandal within the Baylor basketball program – including illicit tuition payments for Mr. Dennehy and at least one other player – that resulted in the resignation of coach Dave Bliss and athletic director Tom Stanton.
Mr. Bliss was secretly recorded encouraging coaches and players to portray Mr. Dennehy as a drug dealer to cover up the illicit payments.
Baylor should learn within weeks whether the NCAA will hand down any sanctions for major rule violations committed under Mr. Bliss.
Jessica De La Rosa, Mr. Dennehy's girlfriend, sounded relieved when told of the plea. "I'm relieved to not have to go through a trial because I have to live with it every day," she said.
As for what punishment Mr. Dotson should draw, Ms. De La Rosa said: "Honestly, justice can't be served in this case. ... I'm glad I'm not the one that has to come up with the sentence."
Pam Bayuk, Mr. Dotson's mother-in-law, said his family was equally surprised by the plea: "I was still hoping that maybe he really didn't do it."
Baylor University officials released a statement saying they were pleased the case did not go to trial.
The plea "brings us a step closer to concluding what has been a painful period," said interim President William Underwood, who led an internal investigation into the basketball scandal.
Mr. Segrest, the district attorney, said there was no pressure from school officials to bargain with Mr. Dotson and avoid a potentially embarrassing trial.
"I never talked to anybody at Baylor," he said.
After being returned to Waco from Maryland, Mr. Dotson was declared incompetent to stand trial and sent to a state mental hospital. A state psychologist deemed Mr. Dotson competent to stand trial early this year, but he remains on psychiatric medication.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 322d7.html
Mr. Dotson's open plea – meaning there was no deal for leniency – surprised prosecutors, his family and the family of victim Patrick Dennehy. Mr. Dotson faces five to 99 years or life in prison. He will be sentenced by state District Judge Ralph Strother next Wednesday.
Jury selection was to have started Friday for Mr. Dotson's trial. McLennan County District Attorney John Segrest said he was "as shocked as anybody" when the plea developed Wednesday.
"Generally, a plea of guilty, open to the court and in a murder case, is not what you're anticipating," Mr. Segrest said.
Defense attorney Russell Hunt Sr. said he had been negotiating with prosecutors "for some time, and it just all seemed to come together."
But Mr. Segrest said he would not budge from the original charge.
Also Online
Dan Ronan reports
"That's as much as we were willing to do. It was murder, and it would be a plea of guilty," he said.
Asked how his client benefits from the plea, Mr. Hunt said he expects "that the judge is going to do something reasonable."
Mr. Dennehy's stepfather, Brian Brabazon, said he hopes "the judge doesn't go lenient on him."
"You just look at that guy, and he looks like an instrument of the devil," Mr. Brabazon said.
Mr. Brabazon, who is now divorced from Mr. Dennehy's mother, said he plans to attend the sentencing.
"I want to look at Carlton in person," he said. "But I kind of wish it would have gone to trial. Even though he's admitted doing it, it really doesn't make me feel that much better because I want to know why."
No motive has ever been made public for the killing.
"Probably, we'll know after the sentencing," Mr. Dotson's attorney said.
The defense might not have had much to work with.
Weeks after Mr. Dennehy was reported missing in June 2003, a disoriented Mr. Dotson was arrested in Maryland. Police said Mr. Dotson had admitted to authorities that he shot Mr. Dennehy, 21, while the two friends were firing guns; Mr. Dotson later denied making a confession.
Mr. Dennehy's body was found six weeks later in a Texas gravel pit with two bullet wounds to the head.
The murder investigation revealed scandal within the Baylor basketball program – including illicit tuition payments for Mr. Dennehy and at least one other player – that resulted in the resignation of coach Dave Bliss and athletic director Tom Stanton.
Mr. Bliss was secretly recorded encouraging coaches and players to portray Mr. Dennehy as a drug dealer to cover up the illicit payments.
Baylor should learn within weeks whether the NCAA will hand down any sanctions for major rule violations committed under Mr. Bliss.
Jessica De La Rosa, Mr. Dennehy's girlfriend, sounded relieved when told of the plea. "I'm relieved to not have to go through a trial because I have to live with it every day," she said.
As for what punishment Mr. Dotson should draw, Ms. De La Rosa said: "Honestly, justice can't be served in this case. ... I'm glad I'm not the one that has to come up with the sentence."
Pam Bayuk, Mr. Dotson's mother-in-law, said his family was equally surprised by the plea: "I was still hoping that maybe he really didn't do it."
Baylor University officials released a statement saying they were pleased the case did not go to trial.
The plea "brings us a step closer to concluding what has been a painful period," said interim President William Underwood, who led an internal investigation into the basketball scandal.
Mr. Segrest, the district attorney, said there was no pressure from school officials to bargain with Mr. Dotson and avoid a potentially embarrassing trial.
"I never talked to anybody at Baylor," he said.
After being returned to Waco from Maryland, Mr. Dotson was declared incompetent to stand trial and sent to a state mental hospital. A state psychologist deemed Mr. Dotson competent to stand trial early this year, but he remains on psychiatric medication.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 322d7.html