MICH. MAN PLEADS IN ESCAPE CAPER

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) A man who fled from a Virginia jail term for
selling $10 worth of marijuana 25 years ago and built an "exemplary"
life as a Michigan businessman pleaded guilty today to escape.

Commonwealth's Attorney Joan Ziglar said she will not make a
recommendation for Alfred Odell Martin III's sentencing on Feb. 8. He
faces up to five years in prison.

Martin, 49, had served less than two days of a one-year sentence when
he left a Martinsville jail work crew in 1974. He also stopped making
payments on furniture and a television when he left to start a new
life in Detroit where he married, raised three children and went to
work for a mortgage company.

After Virginia sought his return last year, a judge handling the legal
dispute in Detroit praised Martin as being "exemplary" and called his
family "a credit to Michigan," but ruled that he had no choice but to
honor Virginia's request.

Martin's parents, who live in the Martinsville area, and five of his
14 brothers and sisters watched in the courtroom.

Jason Martin, the youngest of Martin's siblings, told reporters his
brother was relieved that the case was nearing an end.

"He's glad all this is coming off his shoulders. He's always wanted to
be able to come home to see his family. He's relieved he's home but
not the way it's going on," Jason Martin said.

When he was returned to Martinsville on Dec. 9 to finish serving the
drug sentence, Martin was charged with escape and larceny.
Martinsville Circuit Judge Charles Stone dismissed the larceny charge
Jan. 6 after Ms. Ziglar said Martin had paid the $819.25 he owed for
the merchandise.

Martin originally was given a 10-year sentence with all but one year
suspended. If he didn't escaped, Martin likely would have spent about
three months in jail, Ms. Ziglar said.