Former University of Oregon football player Colt Lyerla was ordered by a Washington County judge on Tuesday to serve another 30 days in jail after escaping from custody last month.
Before handing down the sentence for second-degree escape, Judge D. Charles Bailey encouraged Lyerla to get clean and sober. He told Lyerla to meet with him for progress updates every three weeks, write down goals for himself and work toward moving beyond his persona as a former college star.
"You're really on the edge of both life and the legal system," Bailey told Lyerla. Another criminal conviction will likely lead to a prison sentence, the judge said.
Lyerla, 24, acknowledged having "a problem that I have to deal with."
"I want you to know that I accept the challenge," Lyerla told the judge.
Lyerla was sentenced April 19 to six months in jail for first- and second-degree forgery after admitting to paying for chewing tabacco, lottery tickets and other items with counterfeit $50 bills. He was transferred April 26 to the Washington County Community Corrections Center, a minimum-security residential facility across the street from the county jail, to serve the rest of his sentence, said county prosecutor Allison Brown.
Lyerla climbed out a first-floor dorm window and fled about a week later after he got a phone call from a woman claiming there was a car outside, Brown said.
Police and paramedics found Lyerla the day after his escape at a Hillsboro home about two miles away overdosing on heroin, Brown said. Lyerla tried to run away again, but was caught soon after.
As part of his plea agreement, Lyerla was ordered to stay away from the house where he was found or any other place where drugs are bought or sold. He also was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to undergo drug and mental health evaluations and submit at least two urine samples a week. He will also be eligible to serve his jail time at an in-patient treatment facility.
Rebecca Woolington of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report.
-- Everton Bailey Jr.
ebailey@oregonian.com
503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey