Former high school QB pleads guilty to steroid distribution; Five year suspended sentence

The wheels of justice turn don't they...and sometimes wobble.  A former Mississippi quarterback, who played in JuCo too pleaded guilty to steroids distribution today in a Mississippi court.  He was given a 5 year suspended sentence.  (In contrast, the perpetrator of the largest steroids/doping conspiracy --BALCO -- in the USA received 4 month jail/4 months home arrest) (from the Clarion-Ledger)

A former Madison Central quarterback who lost a chance to play for the University of Mississippi amid accusations he sold steroids pleaded guilty this morning.

Jared Foster was indicted on charges that he sold the anabolic steroid, nandrolone decanoate, to an informant in Madison County on Oct. 5.

Foster was sentenced today to five years at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, with the five years suspended.

He will have to report to Parchman for its Regimented Inmate Program, a six-to- eight-month rehabilitation program. If Foster does not complete the program, his suspended sentence will be reversed, Madison County Circuit Court Judge Samac Richardson said. Foster also was ordered to pay $374 in court costs and a $5,000 fine.

He and his family would not comment this morning.

Five years, although suspended.  Compare that sentence from the state, with Victor Conte's federal sentence.  The mastermind of the largest doping and steroid conspiracy (BALCO) in United State history was given a 4 month prison sentence with 4 months confinement to home, and 2 years supervision.

That's justice...right?  No, it seems more like injustice.  Any thoughts?

Comments

[jared foster]

its me.. im out on the computer watching my life be pissed away bc of one kid framing my life, i was offered 15 years in jail if found guilty, or i could plea to DELIVERING (not selling) ONE BOTTLE>> 10 ml size.. tiny bottle.. and serve FOUR MONTHS IN RID CAMP, i have a great family and great g/f and future.. you tell me what you would have done.. im innocent of selling steroids and its not fair.. i lost my dream to play ball, my reputation.. my whole life i worked for those.. that is fair punishment.. it was his.. he left it in my truck on purpose.. he had been in trouble with over ten charges with police.. he asked me to bring it to him.. i did.. and 5 months later i was arresteD!! and i have to read stuff like this every day of my life.. hope you all have a great life and kids dont do what i did.. im 20 years old.. had everything a boy could ask for,, and by choosing one bad friend', i pissed it all away.. you can have a 50 gallon bucket of the best home made ice cream, put one scoop of chicken crap in the bucket,, and the WHOLE BUCKET IS RUINED>> thanks

[Steroid Nation]

The point here was that a 20 year-old received 5 years suspended sentence for relatively small sales. The perpetrator of a large conspiracy (BALCO) received less of a sentence. We would agree with anyone who thinks that isn't justice.

[Martin]

An truly dispiriting case. How many people are currently connected to illegal steroid use, from doctors to owners to players to high school kids wanting to bulk up to GNC, and they are profiting handsomely, and the judge in this case uses the taxpayers' money to pretend that this is somehow a criminal matter that needs the state's utmost attention. What of the manufacturers? What of the community that encourages teen boys to bulk up? What of the judges that pretend that they are somehow righteous, but are instead stained with hypocrisy? 15 years if found guilty - another piece of drug war insanity?

[Cassie]

This is absolutely a sure sign of injustice. If the biggest distributor got only 4 months, how did someone who just DELIVERED a bottle get a five year suspended sentence? This shows that are court system is in no way balanced and is corrupt!