Syracuse WR Marcus Sales' Drug Charges Dropped
by Sean Keeley on Oct 26, 2011 4:45 PM EDT
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PrintUpdate: The Orange44 law dogs chime in.
Original: Back in July, Syracuse Orange wide receiver Marcus Sales and his brother were charged with fifth- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of marijuana. Sales also was charged with passing a red light, consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle and violating the city’s open container law. It was all kinda impressive, really.
Today, the drug charges against Marcus Sales were dropped due to lack of evidence.
The charges against suspended Syracuse University football player Marcus Sales have been dropped after an Onondaga County grand jury did not find enough evidence to charge him with drug possession, authorities said. However, his brother, Michael Sales Jr., 25, was named in a grand jury indictment handed down today that accuses him of possessing drugs.
According to Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Ferrante, the grand jury decided there was not enough proof that Marcus Sales knowingly possessed drugs. I guess he testified that he never turned around...
The indictment is now sealed and the matter is apparently closed (except for the minor traffic violations he committed). Now some folks are asking if Marcus will rejoin the football team and I honestly don't even think it's a question worth asking. I cannot imagine Doug Marrone just opens that door back up, no questions asked.
Marrone will apparently address the situation after practice.
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I am admittedly not a legal expert...
but, uh, how is this possible?
Grand jury says there isn't enough to blame Marcus
there must be a statement that his brother gave up himself, and this was a piece of evidence in the indictment process.
Otherwise, we have some new STH’s!!!
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
by StealthTurkey on Oct 26, 2011 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
The car belonged to the brother.
There was reasonable doubt that Marcus was unaware there were drugs in the car.
Remember, it was never disclosed if the drugs were in the trunk or just laying in plain sight in the back seat.
The brother confessed to ownership of all the drugs … so they’d never get a drug conviction against Marcus if it went to trial.
Pay the fines for the open container violation … get good grades this semester, and maybe he can rejoin the team for Spring Ball 2012.
Ummmmm...
The standard for a Grand Jury is NOT beyond a reasonable doubt. The burden of proof is only probable cause. This is a much, much lower standard. Its typically easy for ADAs to get return a True Bill and indict the defendant, bc of this low standard. Theres the old saying that a “prosecutor could indict a ham sandwich.”. There must be some evidence that exonerates Sales.
Yeah like I suggested, a statement by his brother claiming all blame.
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
by StealthTurkey on Oct 26, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
His brother's signed confession?
Indicting a ham sandwich and getting a conviction is two different things … especially when the cheeseburger admitted guilt.
Man all this legal talk is making me hungry!
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
by StealthTurkey on Oct 26, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Uhm can you run a 4.5 Forty and haul in Ryan Nassib ropes over the middle?
No sir you cannot!!
That is how it is possible.
I think that is reaching
I doubt the grand jury said “we are all SU fans here, lets let this guy off.” If there was a conspiracy, it was between him and his brother who said “Look youre a athlete and you have a future. I can take a pinch. We will both say I had the drugs and you had no idea. Then you can pay me back later. I love you bro.”
May Doug Marrone bless you and keep you.
by ryanwk628 on Oct 27, 2011 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Something doesn't smell quite right....
Syracuse Basketball Never Sleeps
My guess is that Sales will not be on the team this year in any capacity.
If he can be granted a redshirt for this year, than I wouldn’t be totally surprised if Marrone gave him a shot next year.
Clear eyes, full bologna sandwiches!
Alfonso Ribiero
is actually a phenomenal dancer and a heck of a golfer as well.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Oct 27, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I can vouch for that...
well not really but he is awesome!
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
by StealthTurkey on Oct 27, 2011 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
I dont buy it
but I can see how it would be hard to prove he knew that his brother had drugs. I know of people who Id see at the bar all the time that were dealing and for the longest time I had no idea. Most people tend to give others the benefit of the doubt on that stuff. Especially with family. So I can see why the courts could say there isnt enough evidence if he were to testify “He called me for a ride so I left the party where I had a drink. When I picked him up he threw his stuff in the back and I didnt even think to ask what it was. Next thing I know Im pulled over.” And his brother is screwed so it only makes sense he covers for Marcus. IDK. Either way they dont have a case. And there is no “in the presence” law in NY.
May Doug Marrone bless you and keep you.
There’s an old legal joke that a prosecutor could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich. Grand Juries don’t often refuse indictments, which means that either the prosecutor is completely incompetent, or, more likely, there just wasn’t any evidence.
He may or may not have actually been guilty… but one should always err on the side of letting the guilty go free.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
According to Brent Axe
Marrone DOES want him back, for THIS season.
So, this basically confirms that Marrone plays favorites I think at this point.
Yeah I picked up on the favoritism thing during the ESPNU all access....
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
by StealthTurkey on Oct 26, 2011 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions
LAX?
With all those ‘alleged’ crimes he ought to have a spot on the LAX team… just sayin’… seems qualified.
Orange you glad it's not football season?
Open container charges dropped too
My speculation: Marcus testified against brother at grand jury. Brother is indicted, Marcus given immunity. Brother will plea so not to have to go to open court and save Marcus having to testify. Brother does a stint in prison, Marcus returns to SU goes on to NFL and gets bro a nice spot in Marcus’ entourage when bro gets out of the big house…
F#&% the Big East
It says the grand jury refused to indict, not that he was given immunity
i would think the circumstances are that his brother is taking 100% responsibility and saying Marcus didn’t know about and Marcus is saying he had no idea and it’s his brother’s car and the drugs were not in plain site. Leaves you with no clear evidence linking the drugs to Marcus. As for the open container charge, that’s so softball, there’s not benefit to keeping it once the bigger charges are gone, just a waste of taxpayer money
"We don't lose hat and t-shirt games" - Tedy Bruschi
Wait wait wait!
So are people actually hinting that there is some sort of shady stuff going down by the community to favor the SU football team? I doubt you could find someone in the legal system that would admit to even liking the SU football team!(Have you seen the Dome on game day, not many support this team from the community) If this were a community say like State College PA or Columbus OH or Gainesville FL or Athens GA yeah I could see that but come on! It is pretty clear that either the older brother is taking this one for the team or the cops screwed something up in the “process” and they didn’t have much on Marcus. And I could give a shit either way about Marcus Sales playing for this team, although I would cheer for him if he caught a long bomb for a TD(hahhaha), but really we are going Matlock on something that doesn’t deserve that. Just my dime bag,,,,, I mean two cents.
If there WERE a favor done,
it wouldn’t be because of the football team, it would be because his father is an ex-cop for syracuse.
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
by StealthTurkey on Oct 26, 2011 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
not really....
my dad was a cop and when I had some run-ins with the legal system (in my young and foolish years) no one ever gave me a break… in fact, they were harder on me to set an example. Unless you have some reliable insider information, your theory doesn’t hold water.. but, hey, don’t let facts get in the way of spewing this crap….
I know of cops kids who have gotten off possession charges and out of dui’s by name dropping. A friend of mind just got a dui and our cop buddy explicitly told him “why didnt you say you knew me? he would have left you off.” My girlfriends dad and brother are both cops and members of their family have skated just based on their last name. If you got hung out to dry by a cop who knew you dad, your father likely said “teach him a lesson.”
May Doug Marrone bless you and keep you.
It depends on the town, the size, the cops reputation, and who the cop that arrested the person/people. My dad is a retired officer – I’ve got away with things and I haven’t got away with things. Even cops who get pulled over and such can’t get out of certain things (my one friend’s brother is a cop and he got pulled over going 5 MPH over the speed limit in Virginia – and he got a ticket).
These were serious offenses – and Sales’ brother seems to be getting pinned on everything here – but his dad is a cop too. How does that work?
Cops give cops favors at times – some don’t. It’s how much you respect the law vs. how much you respect your fellow officers. It’s a tough spot to be in when cops catch kids/people who are related to cops. We don’t know for sure so let’s stop assuming SU cops or any cops just give get out of jail free cards.
In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
by Matthew Ventolo on Oct 27, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
From what I know in Syracuse, being a relative of a detective
You REALLY have to screw up BAD to get in trouble if you are related to law enforcement. Doctors, nurses, hell I have even heard of teachers getting out of tickets just for being public servants.
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
by StealthTurkey on Oct 27, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Professional courtesy
is what they call it. They dont give Drs and nurses tickets because “If i were ever in need of their help I would want them to speed.” Teachers and firefighters… its the unions and civil servants things. Lawyers (most of them) dont get tickets because its not worth giving when they will get it thrown out.
May Doug Marrone bless you and keep you.
while true there is no "rigid rule" about this
the fact that the charges were dropped AFTER the arrest negates any favoritism afforded him due to his father being a cop. Anyone’s ability to get off a charge due to a relationship with a police officer would only be applicable at the time of arrest… although that criteria may have some impact at that time, it almost certainly will not influence the grand jury nor the judges in the latter parts of the judicial process. To believe otherwise is just a desire to muddy the water with unsubstantiated accusations. I don’t know why he got off, and neither does anyone here… it’s all just conjecture, and although it makes great fodder for discussion, these assertions are totally unfounded and irrelevant. I’m sure Marrone will do the “right” thing, after the glacially slow SU internal disciplinary board makes a determination. Good luck to everyone involved.
I agree
and understand that this isnt a crime drama where a judge owes a particular detective a favor. But it may be relevant in that these two kids had a sense of being untouchable because they had not been arrested for things in the past based on their connections (Im hypothesizing, I dont know this for a fact) and thought that they could get away with this.
May Doug Marrone bless you and keep you.
possibly, but I doubt it....
I would say they weren’t thinking at all, rather than they thought they were "untouchable’…. These actions, prior to their arrest, screams of very poor judgement, not a sense of being too special to get caught. IMHO. anyway… but, I guess we’ll never know for sure.
I've known people to get off
Just by having a PBA stcker on their windshield. Name dropping definitely works with cops. Now, this is a slightly more serious case, so I’m not sure simply saying, “So and so is my dad” would work here. But it’s not implausible.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Oct 27, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s only if that particular area/town is a PBA union. FOP and PBA towns don’t really get alone from what I’ve been told. But even still – that’s not always the case.
Name dropping definitely works with cops.
Definitely not – not all the time.
In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
by Matthew Ventolo on Oct 27, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
What???
not many support this team from the community
Come on, that’s a ridiculous statement and maybe my sarcastic button is switched to the off position….
There are many, many factors at play here, mostly because his father was (is?) with the PD. If you don’t believe me, we’ll go out for drinks sometime and I’ll tell you some stories about what happens at PD’s when someone gets in trouble….
Syracuse Basketball Never Sleeps
Er....when someone's family member gets in trouble, that is....
Syracuse Basketball Never Sleeps
Ok Ok OK
…. Come on people which is it? Do the local fans suck and never support the team and are townies who frown on the school? Or are they the cops who all the sudden must love the school and favor all sports teams? It cant be both. Lets pack our “I know how it really works” conspiracy theories away in the douchy statements go in here box, and lock that in the I’m just talking and dont really know anything about this subject closet.
Ping, come on dude...
You can see all of the stories above, this isn’t a “I know how it really works” because of assumptions. Like I said, let’s get some beers and I’ll tell you all about the shady stuff that goes down; I worked for, we’ll just say, one of the local police departments for a long time and can tell you first hand not about what I heard, but what I witnessed.
P.S. On behalf of those of us who grew up as lifelong Syracuse residents and fans, can we please stop using the term “Townie”? This is a derogatory term and is not endearing.
Syracuse Basketball Never Sleeps
Maybe I'm crazy...
but I’d almost rather not rock the boat? The current WRs are just finding their groove. Is it crazy to not be eager to welcome Sales back to the team this season? Redshirt him? Who knows if he has even been keeping in shape…let alone midseason football shape.
And was nominated for an Academy Award, sir!
…playing a child molester…. :/
by lemonysnicket9 on Oct 26, 2011 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Good for him,
I hope he doesn’t make any more horrible, life-altering bad decisions anytime soon. I hope HCDM takes him back.
SU 97
I'm just a caveman...
I fell into some ice and later got thawed out by your scientists. Your world frightens and confuses me. When I see your tall buildings and flashy neon signs, sometimes I just want to get away as fast as I can to my place in Martha’s Vineyard. I’m more at home hunting the wooley mammoth than I am hunting a good interior decorator. And when I see a solar eclipse, like the one I went to last year in Hawaii, I think, “Oh no, is the moon eating the sun?” I don’t know, because I’m a caveman. That’s the way I think. But there is one thing I do know…
If Head Coach Doug Marrone is willing to go out on a limb for one of his players who has gotten in some legal trouble, to speak up on behalf of their character, than that player deserves a second chance, not only on the field, but in our hearts.
http://twitter.com/#!/TeabagDunk
by I miss DIAP! on Oct 26, 2011 8:53 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Excellent, excellent.
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer is always good for an automatic rec.
Clear eyes, full bologna sandwiches!
Lionel Hutz: well we didn’t win. Here’s your pizza.
Marcus Sales: but we did win!
Hutz: That’s okay, the box is empty!
"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998
RESTORE 44!
by kotite4ever on Oct 26, 2011 9:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 3 recs
I say it's up to him.
He didn’t do anything like rob anyone or hurt anyone or even intend to sell the drugs. If he wants to rejoin the team I should say to sit him against Louisville since they’re already planning to do the game without him; let him have a whole week of practice first.
How do we know he didn't intend to sell?
There were a lot of drugs in the car plus a couple digital scales.
by Rocklionheart on Oct 26, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess the point is just that - we really don't know, either way...
So maybe he really didn’t have anything to do with all the drugs and whatnot, and the open container is what it is, a kid with a beer. (Doing a stupid thing – please do not get me wrong and put words where they aren’t…you all know what I am saying). If Marrone looked the kid in the eye and the kid told a convincing story (maybe a true one) so be it. Maybe there’s a difference too between kids that bought in to new coach Marrone’s system of work your ass off and try to win over the kids that favored Gerg’s do whatever the hell you want and be shitty and see what happens philosophy and revolted when HCDM got here and informed them that was not going to be acceptable anymore. Marcus bought in, and then Marcus effed up. If its plausible that the serious transgressions are the brother’s, why not give the kid another chance?
F#&% the Big East
No one will know but him and his brother.
Does it really matter anymore? He’s not getting charge – so from a legal standpoint, he’s innocent.
Was he enrolled this semester? If so, how are his grades? Has he been staying in football shape? How is his attitude and personality now? Some of these questions are probably the same Marrone is asking (if he is even considering bringing him back).
My guess is we don’t see him this season. Maybe Spring ball as some have stated.
In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
by Matthew Ventolo on Oct 26, 2011 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I think someone at the Syracuse.com board can help you.
The 'Cuse is in tha house, oh my God oh my God.
by StrawHatGuy on Oct 26, 2011 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously, the kid is enrolled in school? Thats cool.
That tells me that if his grades are good and his nose is clean we see Mr. Sales next season.
Not a bad thing. Weed never killed nobody and I drink more than most. Who am I to judge?
I cant get over the fact that he smoked pot
I mean… come on. The basketball players would NEVER do anything like that.
May Doug Marrone bless you and keep you.
Totally off topic,
but this is the most recent active post.
The UCONN/Pitt game is horrific to watch.
I’ve turned 180 degrees on the ACC move.
Also, why is Lou Holtz allowed in the booth? 5 minutes at halftime is bad enough, but please…
The 'Cuse is in tha house, oh my God oh my God.
I almost feel sorry for Coach P...
He really is such a nice guy, he just doesn’t seem to get that the game passed him by in or around 2004….I don’t feel bad for UConn or their fans though…….
Syracuse Basketball Never Sleeps
he's gotta get rid of Deleone....
this guy is killing the team… again! They have a nice duel-threat QB sitting the bench, they’re 1st and goal from the 7 yd line and this guy has gotten at least 5 yds everytime he’s touched the ball and he can pass… so, they keep the immobile QB in the game and end up with a FG!! I thought I was having a flashback!!!
UConn really isn't good.
Pitt did not look very impressive and yet they cruised to that win. And yea, even though I was on board with the move from the start, there was some sadness. Now I’m just anxious to get going.
And my god, Lou Holtz. He is incredibly annoying, says nothing of substance and always finds a way to make every conversation about ND. I don’t know how the other analysts and commentators put up with him. You can see and hear them laughing under their breath at his ridiculousness. Every week of every year he predicts that ND will somehow go undefeated from that point and win the NC. I can’t wait to see how he reacts when ND finally caves and joins a conference.
Clear eyes, full bologna sandwiches!
The main thing that bothers me about Holtz
Is that the dude talks like he’s had a stroke (he hasn’t, has he?). AllI hear coming out of his grill is much-mouthed gibberish. I’ll admit that my hearing isn’t exactly top notch. Too many games in the Dome will do that to a person. But, come on. You don’t put a guy like that on TV. Make him a columnist on .com or something.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Oct 27, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I live in CT
People are either really pissed, or have stopped caring. I would say stopped caring has the majority. I mean, this is the state that let the Hartford Whalers pull up and head for Carolina. The only way folks pay attention here is by winning a nat’l championship, thats why b-ball is king. They certainly do not want an ex rivalry cast off for a head coach. It is going to get a lot worse before it gets better for Husky fans around here.
SU 97
Can we get Sales's lawyers for Fab????
Syracuse Basketball Never Sleeps
by DC34 on Oct 27, 2011 7:58 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
The Best Thing About Doug Marrone......
Is that he will handle this situation properly. I trust him 100% to make the correct decision. I don’t know how Marcus Sales is as a person, Doug, however, does. I imagine that if he knows Marcus to be a model athlete, then he will let him back on the team this year. However, I also think that Marcus and Doug may make the decision that the best course of action is to redshirt and play a full season next year in order to impress NFL scouts. I think that with Chew graduating, but Nassib coming back, Marcus has a chance to compete with Lemon and Dorian for the number 1 receiver position. Tell Marcus he is free to practice with the team, and if he does, and stays out of trouble, he is set to go with a clean slate next season. Doing this shows the team that Marrone is a tough and strict coach, but not without cause, and is willing to let these young guys grow and mature as players and men.
Has Sales been practicing at all?
Or had he been banned from contact with the team until the legal issues were resolved. I know what Sales isn’t exactly an outstandign practice player, but if he were there, then its not like he’s be much, if any, behind the rest of the team in terms preparation, conditioning, etc. If he’s ready, play him.
I don’t know what was going on that night, and I really don’t care. A court of law found that there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him with a crime greater than running a traffic light and driving without a licsense, so that’s all that really matters. Fortunately for him, being an idiot isn’t illegal. Hopefully this will scare some sense into him and cause him to begin to fulfill his potential in all areas of life, rather than just coasting.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Oct 27, 2011 10:13 AM EDT reply actions
Suspended from the team.
No team activities, no workouts, nothing.
As a student, he can work out in Flanagan Gym, but that’s about it.
I doubt he could be ready to contribute this late in the season if he gets reinstated.
I would tend to agree
But, at the same time, given the fact he wasn’t exactly a stellar performer in practice anway, it might not be as big a deal. But I think that it’s better for everyone if he just sits for the rest of the season. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, as it were,
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Oct 28, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
No Favors Here Folks
Simply lack of evidence to point specifically to Marcus commiting a crime. The grand jury was not made up of Syracuse football fans and/or cops, I assure you some on there dislike both or else he is very lucky. I highly doubt anyone on that grand jury said, “but he helped us win the Pinstripe Bowl” or “his dad is a cop, we have to let him go.”
A great point was brought up earlier, details were never released as to where all of this was so Marcus could have not known about anything other than the open container. For all we know (and anything else is assumption), he could have thrown a backpack in the car, said he was staying overnight somewhere and Marcus simply helped drive him there. Is it possible his brother is simply willing to take all the blame to save him brother? Sure but that happens sometimes and we have no way of knowing for sure.
"I'm in a Syracuse State Of Mind"
http://www.syracusestateofmind.wordpress.com/
I was just saying anything is possible, but am apt to believe it was his brother taking the fall.
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
by StealthTurkey on Oct 27, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
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