Tigers#1
07-04-2003, 02:18 PM
Judge again sentences Cecil Collins' to 15 years
MIAMI (AP) -- A Broward County circuit judge has re-sentenced former Miami Dolphins running back Cecil Collins to 15 years in prison, two months after a state appeals court had thrown out a similar sentence.
Broward Circuit Judge Dorian Damoorgian handed down the maximum sentence to Collins on Friday. Collins was convicted of burglary for sneaking into his neighbors' apartment in an early morning break-in in December 1999.
In March, a state appeals court threw out the original 15-year sentence Collins was given by Broward County Judge Joyce Julian in his burglary trial. The appeals court argued that Julian didn't give Collins' relatives a chance to testify on his behalf.
Collins was sentenced by Damoorgian after Julian lost her seat on the bench last year.
However, the testimony of two former coaches and Collins' parents on Friday did not change the original sentence. Collins has already served 31/2 years of his sentence.
Collins was convicted in March 2001 on charges he broke into an apartment where Tina Nolte and her husband, Ron, were sleeping. When arrested later, Collins told police he only wanted to watch Tina as she slept.
Collins had a similar burglary conviction for a 1997 incident while attending LSU and was on probation when he was arrested two years later.
Collins was the Dolphins' fifth-round draft pick in 1999. He started six games that season, rushing for 414 yards and two touchdowns before breaking his leg.
MIAMI (AP) -- A Broward County circuit judge has re-sentenced former Miami Dolphins running back Cecil Collins to 15 years in prison, two months after a state appeals court had thrown out a similar sentence.
Broward Circuit Judge Dorian Damoorgian handed down the maximum sentence to Collins on Friday. Collins was convicted of burglary for sneaking into his neighbors' apartment in an early morning break-in in December 1999.
In March, a state appeals court threw out the original 15-year sentence Collins was given by Broward County Judge Joyce Julian in his burglary trial. The appeals court argued that Julian didn't give Collins' relatives a chance to testify on his behalf.
Collins was sentenced by Damoorgian after Julian lost her seat on the bench last year.
However, the testimony of two former coaches and Collins' parents on Friday did not change the original sentence. Collins has already served 31/2 years of his sentence.
Collins was convicted in March 2001 on charges he broke into an apartment where Tina Nolte and her husband, Ron, were sleeping. When arrested later, Collins told police he only wanted to watch Tina as she slept.
Collins had a similar burglary conviction for a 1997 incident while attending LSU and was on probation when he was arrested two years later.
Collins was the Dolphins' fifth-round draft pick in 1999. He started six games that season, rushing for 414 yards and two touchdowns before breaking his leg.