Posted on 08/27/2003 10:11:09 AM PDT by TexKat
WACO, Texas - Former Baylor basketball player Carlton Dotson was indicted Wednesday for the murder of his teammate and roommate Patrick Dennehy.
The McLennan County grand jury heard evidence for about 90 minutes before handing down an indictment against Dotson, who has been jailed in his home state of Maryland since his July 21 arrest.
The indictment alleges that Dotson shot Dennehy on or about June 12. Dennehy's body was found in a field near a rock quarry southeast of town July 25.
He had been shot twice in head according to an autopsy report.
District Attorney John Segrest and his staff decided to seek an indictment against Dotson, 21, who is held at Kent County Detention Center in Maryland, before asking Texas Gov. Rick Perry to request Dotson's extradition from Gov. Robert Ehrlich.
Segrest's office now will formalize a request to Perry's office seeking Dotson's extradition. If Dotson continues to contest extradition, a judge in Maryland will schedule an extradition hearing, the results of which Dotson could appeal.
A Chestertown, Md., judge agreed last week to keep Dotson in jail for up to 60 more days as prosecutors work to extradite him to Texas.
Prosecutors in Maryland asked a judge for permission to hold Dotson while Texas prosecutors seek the grand jury indictment needed to begin the extradition process. As required by Maryland law, Kent County District Court Judge Floyd Parks held a 30-day status review of the fugitive (news - Y! TV) warrant under which Dotson has been held.
The judge granted the motion, which defense attorneys did not object to, but he warned Flanagan that Dotson could not be held for more than 90 days. Defense attorneys say they have not waived extradition.
An autopsy report showed that Dennehy died of two gunshot wounds to the head. His body was found four days after Dotson was charged with murder.
Dennehy's disappearance in mid-June, and the naming of Dotson as a "person of interest" in the case, prompted intense scrutiny of Baylor and its basketball program.
Baylor basketball coach Dave Bliss and athletic director Tom Stanton resigned Aug. 8. School investigators said they discovered that Bliss was involved in two players receiving improper financial aid, and that staff members did not properly report failed drug tests.
Dotson indicted for death of Patrick Dennehy
Carlton Dotson is one step closer to being extradited to Waco to face a murder charge. A McLennan County grand jury Wednesday indicted the 21-year-old former Baylor basketball player for the murder of Patrick Dennehy.
However, there are still legal hurdles that could prevent a quick return to Waco. The grand jury heard evidence from two detectives Wednesday morning for about 90 minutes before formally charging Dotson with murder.
The indictment charges that, on or about June 12th, Dotson intentionally or knowingly caused Dennehy's death.
“We will petition Governor Perry to request the extradition of Carlton Dotson from Maryland,” said McLennan County District Attorney John Segrest.
Within a few weeks, a Maryland judge should be able to schedule the hearing, but that doesn't mean Dotson will return to central Texas immediately. If the judge orders the extradition, that should be an appealable order, but that wouldn't necessarily be the end of maryland's contact with the case.
Meanwhile, investigators say they're not through collecting evidence.
Prosecutor Mike Freeman says, “We'll be working on this case until the day it goes to trial.”
Segrest would not speculate if there would be any more arrests in the case.
It’s worth noting that this was a murder indictment -- not capital murder -- so Dotson, if convicted, would face a prison sentence of 5 to 99 years or life.
Segrest would also not comment on whether evidence presented Wednesday would have supported a capital murder indictment. Segrest would not comment on the Dave Bliss scandal or whether any criminal charges would come of it.
STORY BY KELLEY BARR
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