Virginia Tech's Ore testifies in drug trial
Virginia Tech running back Branden Ore testified Wednesday that the driver of a car in which he was riding in 2006 tossed a baggie containing crack cocaine at him as they passed police cars on a Blacksburg street.
Ore was subpoenaed by prosecutors to testify in the U.S. District Court trial of Tony Majette of Christiansburg on charges of possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute it.
Police who stopped the vehicle found two bags of crack cocaine in the car the night of June 5, 2006.
Ore testified that he and Majette were going to look at tires and wheels for Ore's car, and Majette panicked when they drove by several police cars and one turned on its lights. Majette pulled out a baggie from his pocket and threw it into Ore's lap, Ore said.
"I was nervous. I wanted it out of my possession," Ore said. "I just tossed it aside."
Majette then stopped the car and police approached it, Ore testified.
On cross examination, defense attorney Larry Shelton asked Ore if the two were going to buy marijuana that night. Ore said no. Ore said Majette had smoked marijuana in his presence, but that he had not smoked any.
Ore at first told police he didn't know anything about the drugs.
"I looked to him as a friend and didn't want to put him out there like that," Ore said on the stand.
When a detective told him he wouldn't play for Tech anymore if he was busted for drugs, Ore told them Majette had thrown the baggie into his lap, he said.
As the trial got under way, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bassford said Majette told a detective that the drugs were his, and that he wanted to cooperate with police. He later met with a DEA agent on four occasions and tried to set up a suspected dealer.
Shelton said Ore "was given a pass" because he was a football star. He contended that Ore had gone to Majette and asked if he had marijuana. Majette said he could take Ore to where he could get some, but the driveway of the suspected dealer was full of police cars.
The case is expected to resume Wednesday morning.
Ore was an all-Atlantic Coast Conference pick as a sophomore in 2006, and finished this season with 992 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
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