Former Texas RB Ramonce Taylor sent to jail for 5 months for violating probation

2/15/2008 3:38 PM

BELTON, Texas (AP) - Former Texas running back Ramonce Taylor, who scored 15 touchdowns in the Longhorns' 2005 national championship season, will serve five months in jail for violating probation.

State District Judge Martha Trudo on Thursday revoked Taylor's probation from a state felony drug possession charge, sentencing him to two years in jail. She then suspended the sentence for five years under a process called ``shock probation,'' sending Taylor to jail for five months. He will remain on probation after his release.

``This will give him an opportunity to straighten out,'' Bell County Assistant District Attorney Bob Odom told The Associated Press on Friday.

Taylor's mother, Ramona Clark, began wailing during the hearing and was removed from the courtroom, the Temple Daily Telegram reported. She passed out and hit her head on the floor, but regained consciousness a few seconds later.

``At some time you ought to realize what you are doing to your mother,'' Trudo told Taylor. ``This is your second and last chance.''

Taylor's attorney, Bucky Harris, did not immediately return a telephone message Friday from the AP.

Taylor's college career ended after he was arrested in May 2006 and later pleaded guilty to having 4 ounces to 5 pounds of the drug in his vehicle. The drug was divided into four 1-pound bags.

Taylor was dismissed from the Longhorns and has continued to have legal problems with multiple probation violations, including two positive drug tests, failure to report to his probation officer, criminal trespassing and entering a nightclub where alcohol is served.

He was arrested just two weeks ago on a new charge of a possessing a small amount of marijuana, Odom said.

In court, Harris argued that the best way for Taylor to overcome his problems was through hard work and another chance to play professional football.

Taylor told the judge that he recently had a workout with the Kansas City Chiefs.

``I actually had a great tryout and they are thinking about signing me (as a special teams player),'' Taylor said, asking the judge for another chance at probation.

``I'd rather be a role model and put God first in my life,'' Taylor said. ``I lost God when I went to college and stopped going to church.''