A Utah State University linebacker who failed to meet with probation officials following his misdemeanor assault conviction was sentenced Friday to the maximum term of six months in jail.
"If I would have known I had to be there on that date, I would have been there," said Matthew Martinez, 20, Boise, Idaho.First Circuit Judge Clint Judkins ordered Martinez to report to state Adult Probation and Parole officials May 7, on the day of his conviction. Martinez did not meet with an officer until May 17, and agency officials said they did not have enough time to prepare a pre-sentencing report by Friday.
"I specifically advised you from the bench that you were to report immediately," said Judkins. "Did you hear me tell you that?"
Martinez, who was among three Aggie football players convicted in separate trials on allegations they assaulted at least three USU students last January, said he had not heard Judkins.
"The court is somewhat bothered by that," the judge said in sentencing Martinez to six months in prison and fining him $1,000.
But Judkins said, once probation officials complete their report, he will review the sentence.