Cammy gets 3 years...probation

Of course he got off...he's a rich athlete.


Caminiti gets 3 years probation on drug charge

By CAROL CHRISTIAN
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle


Submitting to a tongue-lashing from the judge, former Astros third baseman Ken Caminiti pleaded guilty this morning to possession of cocaine.

The charge stemmed from his arrest with two other people in November at the Ramada Limited Motel in the 6800 block of the Southwest Freeway. He was charged with possession of less than one gram of cocaine. Crack pipes were also found in the motel room, police said.

As the 38-year-old Caminiti stood before visiting state District Judge Bill Hatten this morning, the judge told the former professional athlete he had taken his last drink and used his last controlled substance.

"You're getting a break," Hatten said. "You better take advantage of it."

Caminiti, whose parents were in the courtroom, said the judge's words were "very understandable" in the circumstances.

"You do bad things, you get scolded for it," he said. "I tell my kids that all the time."

In exchange for his plea, Caminiti was given three years deferred adjudication, which means that if he does not get in trouble with the law, he will not have a conviction for that charge on his record.

Under the terms of the agreement, he must continue following the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous and seeing a therapist weekly.

"It's good stuff that I need to be doing anyway," he said.

He must also pay a $2,000 fine and perform 200 hours community service. Through an arrangement with the Harris County District Attorney, he can perform the service by working with children in schools or Little League teams, said his lawyer, Kent Schaffer.

"This is a guy a lot of kids have looked up to for years, and he can make a major difference in the lives of kids in this city..." Schaffer said.

"We see professional athletes getting in trouble all the time in every city in America. Kids need to learn it's more than glamour, it's more than success."

Caminiti said that after his arrest in November, he spent about 70 days in rehabilitation programs in Arizona and New Mexico. Now, he said, he lives in the moment and does not expect to play professional baseball again.

"I'm not trying to get too far ahead of myself, and I'm definitely not trying to dwell on the past," he said. "I'm just trying to move forward taking baby steps, you might say."

Caminiti said he wanted to thank everyone who has supported him through "this mess."