Published: August 28, 2007 11:55 pm         

Lawyer says prison-bound pitching phenom 'optimistic' about future

SALEM, Mass. — When Jeff Allison reports to a North Carolina prison farm any day now, he'll join his fellow inmates in growing vegetables, tending livestock and making deck furniture.

The 22-year-old Peabody High School graduate also hopes to find time for another activity | baseball.

"He's going to have someone send him his glove and ball. He's hoping there's someone out there he can play baseball with," said his North Carolina lawyer, Michael Schlosser. "We have a lot of baseball players in North Carolina."

Allison, the former national high school baseball player of the year and first-round draft pick of the Florida Marlins, was sentenced to 75 days at the Guilford County Prison Farm last week after pleading guilty to drug possession and stolen vehicle charges.

The prison term would appear to be another low point for Allison, whose descent from million-dollar baseball prospect to drug-addicted criminal has played out in public over the last four years.

But Schlosser, in an interview Tuesday, said Allison has been "absolutely" drug-free for seven months and is looking forward to a return to baseball.

"His spirits are good," Schlosser said. "He's exercising, and he's ready to get back into baseball. He's very, very optimistic about baseball, he truly is."

As of Tuesday, Allison was still in the Guilford County jail in North Carolina, where he has been held for the last month while awaiting sentencing. He was arrested in North Carolina on back-to-back days last October on stolen vehicle and heroin possession charges.

He could have avoided jail time by attending a court-ordered drug treatment program, but he skipped out on the program and returned to Massachusetts. When he reported to the Florida Marlins minor league camp in Jupiter, Fla., in July in an attempt to make a comeback, he was arrested and extradited to North Carolina to face sentencing.

Living in their car

Schlosser said Allison skipped out on the drug program for two reasons. He and his mother, Noreen, had been evicted from their apartment because they had no money and were living in their car, Schlosser said. And drug dealers in the area were after him for money.

"There was a safety concern and an economic concern," Schlosser said. "He was able to get funds so he could return to Massachusetts."

While in Massachusetts, Allison completed a 30-day inpatient addiction program at McLean Hospital in Belmont, followed by an intensive, four-week outpatient program, according to Schlosser.

In July, Allison reported to the Marlins' minor league complex in Jupiter, Fla., to attempt a comeback. He was drug-tested regularly by the Marlins and passed every test, Schlosser said.

But on July 27, Allison was arrested in the Jupiter area on the outstanding charges in North Carolina.

Schlosser said Allison was not arrested until he went to Florida because it took awhile for his name to be entered into the National Crime Information Center, a computerized database that informs law enforcement authorities about fugitives from other states.

"When his name was finally entered, that's when the Florida authorities picked up him," Schlosser said.

Schlosser said Allison had intended to return to North Carolina on his own to face sentencing but first wanted to complete his summer league program with the Marlins.

"He fully intended to return to Guilford and face the penalty for not completing the (drug treatment) program," Schlosser said.

Schlosser said Allison -- who has suffered at least two life-threatening heroin overdoses -- is now owning up to his problem and is ready to face the consequences and get on with his life.

Staying the course

The prison farm is for nonviolent offenders, and he'll be allowed to have visitors. Schlosser said Noreen Allison, Jeff's mother, has left North Carolina and possibly returned to Massachusetts.

"I think she's glad this is almost behind them," he said.

Schlosser said Allison will be transferred from the county jail to the prison farm, about 10 miles away, by the end of the week. When his 75 days are up, he'll be on probation for three years.

"That should be additional incentive for him to stay on the path," Schlosser said.

As an indication of Allison's optimistic attitude and his determination to stay in shape, Schlosser pointed out that Allison has been engaging fellow inmates in the Guilford County jail in push-up contests.

"One of my other clients did 500 in 40 minutes," Schlosser said. "Jeff may have done better than that."



Paul Leighton writes for The Salem News of Salem, Mass.



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Jeff Allison time line

June 3, 2003 | Peabody High senior drafted 16th in the first round of the major league baseball draft.

July 17, 2003 | Signs contract with Florida Marlins for $1.85 million bonus.

Aug. 1, 2003 | Pitches two scoreless innings for Florida rookie team in professional debut.

May 5, 2004 | Leaves spring training without permission; placed on team's restricted list without pay.

July 17, 2004 | Admitted to Union Hospital in Lynn for heroin overdose.

May 4, 2005 | Returns to Marlins by pitching five innings for Greensboro (N.C.) Grasshoppers minor league team; finishes season with 5-4 record in 17 starts.

March 8, 2005 | Suspended by Marlins in spring training for violating unspecified team policy.

Aug. 7, 2006 | Found unconscious in Medford home from heroin overdose.

Oct. 24-25, 2006 | Arrested on consecutive days in North Carolina on stolen vehicle and drug possession charges; released on $2,500 bail.