Gerald Murray Pleads Not Guilty, Fails to Make Bail of $100,000

SAN DIEGO — Gerald Murray, a former center on the San Diego State basketball team, remained in jail Wednesday, unable to make bail after he pleaded not guilty to possession of rock cocaine for sale.

Murray, who was arrested Friday at a downtown hotel, entered his plea before San Diego Municipal Court Judge Janet I. Kintner. He is being held in County Jail in El Cajon in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Kintner rejected a request by Murray’s court-appointed attorney, Gary S. Bloch, to reduce bail to $25,000. Before his arrest, Murray had been free on $10,000 bail while awaiting sentencing in another drug case.

Bloch argued for the reduction by noting that Murray had appeared for all the court dates in his earlier case. But Deputy Dist. Atty. Douglas C. Gregg cited statements that he said Murray made to police shortly after his latest arrest, statements indicating that Murray was not a good candidate for a reduced bail.

Gregg said Murray told police that he was sending money from drug sales to his mother in Detroit and that he planned to leave the country to play basketball in Italy.

Murray’s mother, Florence, could not be reached for comment.

Murray, 23, was arrested Friday after three ounces of rock cocaine was found in a search of his hotel room, San Diego police said. Gregg said police were tipped by the hotel manager after a housekeeper reported seeing drugs while cleaning the room. Gregg said the search also uncovered drug paraphernalia.

It was the fourth time since Aug. 1 that Murray was arrested on drug charges. He pleaded guilty April 13 to selling rock cocaine to an undercover officer Nov. 21. Five other drug charges were dropped in exchange for that guilty plea.

Murray is scheduled to be sentenced June 8 in connection with that case by Municipal Judge Lisa Guy-Schall. But his latest arrest could damage an agreement he made with Guy-Schall that she would consider him for probation if he stayed away from drugs while awaiting sentencing.

Gregg said that the arrest meant that “probation is not a viable alternative” and that Murray more likely would receive state prison time. Gregg said Murray faces a maximum penalty of eight years and six months in state prison and a $40,000 fine if also convicted on the latest charge.

Kintner set a preliminary hearing in the latest case for June 1.

Murray was suspended from the basketball team after his third arrest Nov. 24 and did not play for the Aztecs this past season. As a junior in 1986-87, he led the team in rebounding at 7.9 per game and averaged 10.1 points.