Former USC football player sentenced to drug treatment

Former USC and Raiders quarterback Todd Marinovich will have to

attend a six-month, live-in drug treatment program and six months of

outpatient treatment, a judge ruled Friday.

Earlier in the week, Marinovich, 35, pleaded guilty to charges

that he fled from Newport Beach police May 20 when they found drug

paraphernalia in a bag on his bicycle. He received credit for 18 days

served in the Orange County Jail, according to the District

Attorney’s Office.

Marinovich appeared in court Friday on charges that he violated

the terms of his parole in connection with another drug arrest in

Newport Beach last year. A Superior Court judge sentenced him to the

treatment program.

Newport Beach police arrested Marinovich on May 20 after they

found him and his bicycle near 58th Street. Marinovich fled on the

bike and ditched the bag, police said.

Officers gave chase and arrested Marinovich, who had a warrant for

alleged probation violations, more than 10 blocks away. They found

the bag the following day.

The former football standout has had a series of scrapes with the

law, most for drug violations.

He was sentenced to a drug treatment program following a 2000

arrest for heroin possession. In 1997, he was sentenced to six months

in jail after pleading guilty to charges that he was growing

marijuana in his Dana Point home.

Marinovich listed his city of residence as Newport Beach on his

latest arrest report.