ESCAPEE GETS 10 DAYS IN JAIL

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) A man who fled a jail work detail in 1974 and was a
model citizen until the law finally caught up with him last fall was
sentenced Monday to just 10 days behind bars for the escape.

"You've been looking over your shoulder for long enough," Circuit Judge
Charles Stone said.

Alfred Odell Martin III, 49, could have gotten five years in prison for the
escape. He pleaded guilty last month.

Martin, who is from the Detroit suburb of Livonia, is already serving a
one-year jail sentence for his original marijuana conviction. But he has
been held for more than two months and could be released early for good
behavior.

"Some deterrence is needed, but not a great deal in your case," the judge
told him.

More than 50 friends and relatives broke into applause in the courtroom.

"I did wrong, but I've been good," Martin told the judge. His voice broke
as he said, "I am glad to be here today to be relieved of a burden I've
carried too long."

Prosecutor Joan Ziglar had maintained that Martin should get time behind
bars to send a message to other inmates that they can't walk away and
expect leniency. However, she didn't recommend a specific sentence.

Martin was just about two days into his one-year sentence when he left a
jail work-crew on Feb. 13, 1974, and fled to Michigan. Martin probably
would have spent only about three months in jail on the conviction, for
selling $10 worth of marijuana to a police informant.

Martin said he fled the work crew to take care of his wife, a recent
immigrant from the Caribbean, and their baby.

Virginia first sought his extradition in 1974, but then-Gov. William
Milliken of Michigan effectively granted Martin legal asylum.

Had he not been caught driving with expired license plates in Michigan last
November, and if Virginia had not pressed for extradition, Martin would
still be working at a mortgage company and living with his wife and three
children.

At the time of his extradition, Martin was praised by a judge in Detroit as
an "exemplary" citizen whose family was "a credit to Michigan."

But Judge William Cahalan also said he had to honor Virginia's request
because of recent court rulings preventing a governor from blocking an
extradition.