Shooter in Carruth Case Is Sentenced to 40 Years

The man who shot and killed Rae Carruth’s pregnant girlfriend was sentenced Thursday to more than 40 years in prison.

Van Brett Watkins, 40, was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years, five months for the shooting of Cherica Adams in November 1999 and a maximum of 50 years, eight months.

Watkins asked Superior Court Judge Shirley Fulton for the minimum sentence of 35 years, six months, saying, “I’m on a long road to repairing myself. I don’t think I should die in jail.”

He also apologized to Adams’ mother, Saundra. “Mrs. Adams, I’m very sorry for what I did,” he said. “And I’ll be paying for it in heaven.”

After the sentencing, Saundra Adams said she forgave Watkins, whom she described as “truly remorseful.”

*

Former Indianapolis Colt quarterback Art Schlichter was sentenced to five years in federal prison for credit-card fraud and money laundering. The 1982 first-round NFL draft pick, who pleaded guilty in January, also was ordered to pay nearly $170,000 in restitution and faces three years of supervised release. . . . Circuit Judge Joseph Will in Daytona Beach, Fla., allowed a student newspaper, the Independent Florida Alligator, to challenge the sealing of the Dale Earnhardt autopsy photos and test the constitutionality of a new law that restricts access to such images. . . . An arrest warrant is out in Bradenton, Fla., for Clifford Rozier, a former NBA first-round draft pick, in the theft of a deputy’s car.

Colleges

Maryland assistant Billy Hahn accepted the job as basketball coach at La Salle. Hahn, who was an associate head coach under Gary Williams the last 12 seasons, replaces Speedy Morris, fired last month after 15 years at La Salle.

Gary Waters, who led Kent State to a school-record 24 victories and an NCAA tournament win last month over Indiana, is probably headed for Rutgers after telling Athletic Director Laing Kennedy about the offer and informing his players that he intends to leave.

Jody Conradt resigned as women’s athletic director at Texas to concentrate solely on coaching women’s basketball at the school.

Kevin Lyde, Temple’s junior center, has decided to leave school early to make himself eligible for the NBA draft.

Purdue is turning to the Internet, trying to identify dozens of students who took part in a disturbance after the Boilermakers lost the championship game of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

The university posted on its Web site about 100 images of people photographed or videotaped among the unruly crowds that caused an estimated $100,000 in damage on and near the campus.

Because of unusual demand, USC will sell tickets at the gate for its spring football scrimmage at the Coliseum on Saturday. The event begins at 9 a.m. Tickets, which include a barbecue lunch, are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.

Quarterback Calvin McCall, who started 17 games the last two seasons, has left the Maryland football team to concentrate on basketball for the Terrapins.

Several Washington State football players will be disciplined by Coach Mike Price for their role in a fight that occurred at a fraternity party last weekend after his own investigation. Price did not name the players he is investigating.

Karl Goehring won the duel of heralded goalies over Ryan Miller as defending NCAA hockey champion North Dakota defeated top-ranked Michigan State, 2-0, at Albany, N.Y., to return to the final of the Frozen Four. North Dakota (29-7-9) will play Boston College (32-8-2), which defeated Michigan, 4-2, for its first NCAA victory over the Wolverines in five games.

Miscellany

Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson was resting comfortably in Kansas City, Mo., after undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery. Dawson, 65, had the operation on Monday after a routine examination. Dawson was expected to be released from St. Luke’s Hospital at the end of the week.

Wide receiver Carl Pickens, released by the Tennessee Titans, agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys, reportedly for one year. . . . The Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent linebacker Levon Kirkland, who was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers last month for salary cap purposes. . . . Cornerback Ray Crockett, a free agent who spent the last seven seasons with the Denver Broncos, agreed to a six-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. . . . Offensive tackle Scott Gragg agreed to a six-year, $18-million deal to return to the San Francisco 49ers. . . . Seeking a third wide receiver, the Broncos signed free agent Eddie Kennison, who played for the Chicago Bears last season, to a multiyear contract. . . . Defensive end Al Fontenot, an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a three-year deal that will keep him with the San Diego Chargers.

Darrell Brown, a former starter for Maryland’s basketball team during the early 1970s, was shot to death in a Pittsburgh alley, police said. He was 50.

Russia’s chance of defeating Sweden in today’s Davis Cup quarterfinal received a major setback when Marat Safin was scratched from the team because of an injured back.

Natalie Darwitz scored power-play goals 50 seconds apart in the first period as the United States routed Finland, 9-0, to reach the semifinals of the women’s hockey world championships at Minneapolis.