ESCAPED INMATE JAILED FOR 10 DAYS

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) A man who escaped from a jail work-crew 25 years ago
and then fled to Michigan, where he led an "exemplary" life, was sentenced
today to only 10 additional days in jail.

Alfred Odell Martin III, extradited from Michigan after court rulings left
that state's governor no choice, had faced up to five years in prison on the
escape charge. Martin had pleaded guilty to the charge last month.

"You've been looking over your shoulder for long enough," Circuit Judge
Charles Stone told Martin today. "Some deterrence is needed but not a great
deal in your case."

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

Martin, 49, from the Detroit suburb of Livonia, also is 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.

"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."

The judge refused to put Martin on probation after he serves his jail time.

Commonwealth's Attorney Joan Ziglar had maintained that Martin should spend
more time behind bars to send a message to other inmates that they can't
walk away and expect leniency. However, she made no sentence recommendation.

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

There is little question that Martin turned his life around.

Had he not been caught driving with expired license plates in Michigan last
November, and if Virginia had not pressed for extradition, he 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
being "exemplary." The judge also called his family "a credit to Michigan."

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

Virginia first sought his extradition in 1974, but then-Gov. William
Milliken, under old rules, was able, in effect, to grant Martin legal
asylum.