Marinovich again in scrape with law

Marisa O’Neil

Former USC and Raiders quarterback Todd Marinovich is scheduled to

appear in court today for alleged probation violations, after

pleading not guilty Monday to charges he resisted arrest.

Marinovich, a former football standout who has had numerous

scrapes with the law, is being held without bail in the Theo Lacy

Facility in Orange. Newport Beach police arrested him Friday night

after he allegedly fled from them.

Officers conducting a patrol check near 58th Street just after 9

p.m. Friday found Marinovich, 35, and a bicycle in a public bathroom,

Newport Beach Sgt. Bill Hartford said. An open bag on top of the

bicycle contained what appeared to be drug paraphernalia, he said.

When officers approached Marinovich, he fled on the bicycle,

Hartford said.

“He was able to ride two or three blocks from the location,”

Hartford said. “Officers lost sight of him, and he discarded the

bag.”

Officers found Marinovich near 43rd Street and River Avenue and

arrested him on suspicion of obstructing a police officer.

Police searched the next day and found the bag -- with a bent

spoon and a syringe inside -- on 44th Street, Hartford said.

On the police report, the former first-round draft pick -- who

once appeared on a “Sports Illustrated” cover -- listed his

occupation as an unemployed artist.

Marinovich is also being held on alleged probation violations in

connection with an earlier drug arrest, authorities said. A no-bail

warrant was issued for his arrest before Friday’s incident, police

said.

In September, Marinovich pleaded guilty to felony drug possession,

resisting arrest and possessing a syringe following another arrest in

Newport Beach. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years

probation, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Today’s arraignment is in connection with those charges.

Marinovich has battled drug problems since his days at USC and has

logged numerous arrests.

Hewas arrested on cocaine possession charges in 1991 in Newport

Beach. Those charges were later dismissed by an Orange County

Superior Court judge.

Marinovich was sentenced to six months in jail in 1997 after

pleading guilty to charges that he was growing marijuana in his Dana

Point home.

He was sentenced to a drug treatment program following a 2000

arrest for heroin possession. A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge

later found him guilty of probation violations after he missed three

drug tests.

Marinovich is scheduled to appear at Harbor Justice Center June 1

for a pretrial hearing on the resisting arrest charges.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil @latimes.com.