Murray Will Not Face Charges in Drug Case; SDSU Lifts Suspension

By CURT HOLBREICH

Oct. 8, 1987 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO — Gerald Murray, starting center on the San Diego State basketball team, will not be charged in connection with a Sept. 1 arrest on suspicion of drug violations, the San Diego County district attorney’s office said Wednesday.

“We have decided not to prosecute because we do not have sufficient evidence,” said Linda Miller, a spokeswoman for the district attorney.

Murray has been free on $3,000 bail since he was arrested along with two other people in a police raid of an off-campus apartment in East San Diego.

Miller also said charges would not be filed against the other adult arrested, Natosha Plousha, 22, of San Diego. Also arrested was a 17-year-old male.

Murray, in a conference-call interview with his lawyer, Ronald M. Frant of San Diego, said Wednesday night that he was ready to “go on with life regularly.”

“I’m real excited about (the decision),” said Murray, a 6-foot 8-inch senior from Detroit. “It’s going to take a lot of pressure off me in school and basketball.”

SDSU Coach Jim Brandenburg said he has lifted a team suspension imposed on Murray shortly after the arrest. Brandenburg said Murray would be allowed to participate when practice starts Oct. 15.

“I’m happy for Gerald that this situation was able to come out positive for him,” Brandenburg said. “I’m happy that this is all behind him, and we’ll be able to get down to business Oct. 15.”

Murray’s legal difficulties are not over, however. Murray still has a hearing Oct. 15 in San Diego Municipal Court in connection with five traffic offenses and a Jan. 2 arrest for solicitation of a lewd act in public, according to court records.

Murray also has an outstanding warrant for a sixth traffic offense. He was cited July 10 by San Diego police for driving without a license in his possession, according to court records. Murray had his license suspended twice last spring for traffic violations, according to records of the California Division of Motor Vehicles.

Frant said Murray would not comment on the pending cases.

Murray said he was informed of the district attorney’s decision in a meeting with Brandenburg before the basketball team’s preseason conditioning course Wednesday. But it was not until he checked with Frant that he was sure of the decision.

“This was a very difficult time,” Murray said. “I had a lot of highs and a lot of lows. I tried to practice as if nothing was going on.”

Murray said he is ready for the start of formal practice. But he said he must lose 20 pounds before the season opener Nov. 27 against Kansas State in the first round of the Sun-Met Classic in Fresno. He said he weighs 285 pounds, 17 pounds fewer than he did a month ago.

Murray averaged 10.1 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game last season. He started 28 of the Aztecs’ 30 games.

“I’m not in the greatest of shape,” Murray said. “But I’ll be (ready), if not by the 15th, then hopefully soon.”