A Fresno Superior Court judge presiding over the case of former Fresno City College quarterback Emmanuel Lewis, charged with possessing and selling drugs, allowed on March 19 for a third time extension, this time for the defense to propose alternative sentencing.

The delay came after Emmanuel Lewis’ attorney, David Washington, briefly left the court room with Fresno Superior Court judge Jonathan R. Conklin at 10:03 a.m. They both returned at 10:12 a.m. Immediately following, Washington left the court room with Lewis and returned shortly after.

After several time delays involving other court cases and with a brief recess, Conklin addressed Lewis’ request once the court was back in session, allowing him “some additional time to propose some sentencing alternatives.”

Alternative sentences, also known as intermediate sanctions, “punish but do not involve incarceration,” according to law.jrank.org, a Law Library Web site.

The case has been given time extensions twice before, On Feb. 26 and Feb. 4 in order for the defense to have time for further investigation and to collect more information regarding the case.

Police arrested Lewis on Dec. 10, 2009. During a four-month investigation, Clovis police say Lewis sold close to an ounce of cocaine and 25 ecstasy pills to undercover narcotics officers.