COBBS FINED, GIVEN COMMUNITY SERVICE OVER DRIVING, POT CONVICTION

NORTH LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas running back Cedric Cobbs was fined $700,
ordered to do 20 hours of community service and given six months' probation
Tuesday for driving and marijuana convictions.

Glendree Cobbs, the mother of the 2000 Cotton Bowl MVP, said after the
sentencing hearing Tuesday that her son would appeal his driving while
intoxicated and marijuana possession convictions.

By seeking a new trial, the player could face stiffer penalties, including a
prohibition on out-of-state travel.

"The decision to appeal is a personal one based upon his rights and appeal
from a decision that we believe was not supported by evidence," Glendree
Cobbs said. "This is about my son, his life and his future.

"I, too, would like for this to be behind me as I'm sure that other people
would, too. But our decision is not based upon what other people think."

An appeal means the case would be tried again in Pulaski County Circuit
Court. North Little Rock city attorney Paul Suskie said a new trial, which
could be a trial by jury, would take place as if the old trial never
happened -- with acquittal or a worse penalty possible.

Cedric Cobbs did not comment, as directed by his lawyer Darrell Brown, who
filed appeal papers immediately after the hearing.

District Judge Barry Sims merged a number of traffic violations and fined
the player $700, to be paid by Oct. 11. Sims said Cobbs could perform
additional community service to pay off the fine at a rate of $8 an hour.

Sims also sentenced Cobbs to seven days in jail, suspended six of them and
made up the balance with the time Cobbs spent detained after a traffic stop
in Little Rock in January.

On the marijuana possession conviction, Sims imposed six months of
unsupervised probation. Cobbs' record also will be cleared of the marijuana
possession if he doesn't get in further trouble in the next year.

The judge also ordered 20 hours of community service and granted Arkansas
football coach Houston Nutt and his assistants permission to keep track of
Cobbs' hours and provide updates to the court.

"He got treated like anybody else," Suskie said. "I think what the judge did
was in line with what we do every day."

Suskie said either his office or the county prosecuting attorney's office
would handle a new trial.

Teresa Belew, the executive director of Arkansas' Mothers Against Drunk
Driving, said she thought the sentence was fair. She offered Cobbs
encouragement and patted him on the back as he left the court building.

The terms of Cobbs' probation will not restrict his travel, allowing him to
leave Arkansas for out-of-state games. That status could be at risk in a new
trial.

When Cobbs was arrested, Nutt set 15 conditions that Cobbs had to meet to
stay on the team. Nutt has said that Cobbs met those obligations and the
player took part in spring drills.

"For the past seven months, he has been required to abide by strict
guidelines to remain in our program," Nutt said. "His standing on our
football team is dependent on his continued adherence to these guidelines as
well as those set by the judicial system."

On Jan. 8, the day before his 21st birthday, Cobbs was stopped for going 73
mph in a 60 mph zone on Interstate 30, according to a state police report.
State Trooper Marshall Cooney said he smelled marijuana coming from Cobbs'
car. The trooper also said Cobbs acknowledged smoking marijuana.

Cobbs initially was issued traffic citations for driving while intoxicated,
speeding, not wearing his seatbelt and not having proof of insurance. The
insurance citation was dropped July 11 when Cobbs showed proof.