Austin Scott denied parole for selling potEx-Parkland football star will be sent to county's work release center.August 11, 2014|By Laurie Mason Schroeder, Of The Morning CallFormer Parkland High School football star Austin Scott won't be going home this week, but he will be moving out of his jail cell.Lehigh County Judge Robert L. Steinberg denied Scott's plea for parole but granted his request for work release. That means Scott will be transferred from the jail in Allentown to the county's work release center in Salisbury Township."He can get out during the day and work, instead of being warehoused. That was the main consideration for Austin,Polarized Ray Ban Aviators," said his attorney, James Heidecker.Scott, 29, of Allentown was in court Monday to challenge the six- to 23-month county jail sentence he received in May for selling marijuana to undercover police officers. He claimed he received a harsher sentence than other low-level pot dealers because of his notoriety."There was a certain celebrity that came with this case. Because of Austin's past," Heidecker said.Scott pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced in May for selling marijuana to undercover police officers four times between July and October 2013. Each time he sold between 3 and 4 grams of the drug, court records say. The deals took place at gas stations and a Taco Bell.In addition to jail time, Steinberg ordered Scott to complete two years of probation after he's released.At the time, the judge said he might have considered a probation-only sentence for Scott if he'd just sold the drug one or two times. Steinberg said he was also concerned because the deals went down in public areas.In court Monday, Steinberg said Scott was treated fairly, both by police and the court system."Under any circumstances, he'd be facing these types of penalties," the judge said.In granting work release, Steinberg said he was taking into consideration the fact that Scott has served the first few months of his jail term without incident."The last two months have shown me, somewhat, that you've come to grips with what you've done," he told Scott.Scott spoke briefly, saying he'd learned from his arrest and incarceration. He said he didn't set out to be a drug dealer, but took over the illegal business from a friend who had sold him marijuana for years. When the friend moved out of state, he suggested Scott take over his customers so that he could smoke for free."I have seen a lot of people in my past who have sold,Ray Ban 4114, and I thought I could get away with it," he said. "I've had a lot of time to think about my past and my present and my future, and I'm looking forward to getting back to work and getting on with my life."Heidecker said Scott was working a $21-per-hour construction job at the time of his arrest and would be able to go back to that position. He also said his client is planning to start an organic food business.Heidecker said he is confident Scott will stay on the right side of the law."He's owned it. He's been accountable. He's done what he's supposed to do,Cheap Ray Ban Sunglasses," Heidecker said.Monday's hearing was just the latest chapter in Scott's story, which began brightly in high school then dimmed in college. At Parkland, Scott set state records with 53 touchdowns and 3,846 yards rushing and led the Trojans to a state title in 2002.In 2007, Scott was thrown off the Penn State football team after he was charged with rape. The charge was later dropped for lack of evidence.Scott signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL but never made it past training camp. He later played in the German Football League and for the semi-pro NEPA Miners in Lackawanna County.Twitter @LehighCourts610-820-6506Featured ArticlesMore:Related Articles
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