This is a sad situation all the way around: One of the top high school basketball players in Ohio was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday, and video of the incident shows him collapsing to the floor as the judge reads her decision.
Tony Farmer, 18, would be a senior this year at Garfield Heights High. But instead of going back to school and playing basketball this upcoming season, the much sought after recruit will likely be going to jail after pleading guilty to robbery, assault, kidnapping and intimidation.
The charges stem from an April incident with his ex-girlfriend, Andrea Lane, that took place in the lobby of Lane’s apartment complex. Farmer could reportedly be seen on surveillance tape dragging Lane by her hair. He sent her some threatening text messages as well, which is where the intimidation charges come in.
In a strange twist, Lane was one of the people (in addition to friends, family, and teachers) who asked the judge to not put Farmer in prison.
“I know he was a good person,” she said, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I hope he still is.”
Now, though, it looks like the 6-foot-7 forward’s basketball career (it looked like it would be a bright one: Farmer is a consensus top 100 prospect, and was getting close looks from Ohio State, Xavier, Dayton and Michigan State) will be put on hold, if it hasn’t been damaged irrevocably. The judge will review her sentencing in 180 days, but it looks like Farmer is going to jail.
The anguishing video, via Fox 8 in Cleveland, is here:
