Former students plead guilty to drug charges, face jail time

Two former Fairfield University students are facing at least a year in prison for selling large quantities of marijuana after pleading guilty on Feb. 8 at the Bridgeport Superior Courthouse.

Erick Rodriguez ’05 and Micaela Marshall ’06 now face sentencing on April 1, nearly a year after the initial incident that resulted in their arrest. After pleading guilty, both students received a recommended sentence.

Superior Court Judge Roland Fosano suggested for Marshall at least 15 months in prison, and recommended a one-year term for Rodriguez.

According to Dean of Students Mark Reed, the school completed its judicial proceedings with the former students prior to their pleas.

He said that only in rare cases would the school wait for legal proceedings to conclude to determine the student’s punishment.

Marshall sold large amounts of marijuana from her Dolan dorm room, according to police. On Feb. 24, 2004 Marshall was caught selling marijuana to an undercover officer near the Pumpkin Preschool on Grasmere Avenue.

She was charged on multiple counts of selling marijuana, sale of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a day-care center, sale of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a school, sale of a controlled substance, operation of a drug factory and use of drug paraphernalia. She was freed after posting a $50,000 bond.

Erick Rodriguez, police said, was an accomplice of Marshall’s and was charged with sale of marijuana, possession of marijuana and sale of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a school. He was also freed on bond.

Police also said that officers bought drugs from Marshall near Fairfield Warde High School on March 16, 2004 and one week later outside Dolan.

Previous to the last purchase, police said Marshall was seen exiting Rodriguez’s townhouse where she was given more marijuana.

Police searched Marshall’s Dolan room and seized marijuana and drug paraphernalia, they said.

They also searched Marshall’s house on Brookbend Rd. in Fairfield, where they found more marijuana and paraphernalia.

Rodriguez had previously been charged with possession of marijuana and intent to sell by Fairfield police in 2002, as well as a breach of peace in the second degree at Fairfield University in March of 2004.

He has pled not guilty to those charges and they are still pending.