Former UA QB pleads innocent
Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones pleaded innocent to a felony drug charge in Fayetteville on Monday, then caught a flight to Florida to continue preparing for the NFL season. Jones, 25, a receiver in his fourth year with the Jacksonville Jaguars, was arrested July 11 by Fayetteville police who said he was cutting cocaine with a credit card while parked with friends in the Dickson Street entertainment district. On Monday, Jones, who is free on $ 2, 500 bond, pleaded innocent to possession of a controlled substance, a felony. Judge Ray Reynolds set the trial for Oct. 10.
His parents accompanied him to the brief arraignment at the Washington County Detention Center. Woody Bassett, one of Jones’ attorneys, said it wasn’t appropriate to comment.
Jones has been criticized for not living up to his status as a first-round pick with the Jaguars, but he stood out in the team’s first preseason scrimmage. On Saturday night, he had three catches for 37 yards in Jacksonville’s 20-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
“Matt’s been solid and he’s had a really good start to camp,” Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio said in a statement Monday. “We want him to sustain the effort, energy, commitment and determination he’s shown in the first two weeks. We’re looking forward to getting him into games and letting him play.”
Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Threet said there’s no evidence Jones intended to sell the 6 grams of cocaine that police said was in his possession. That would have warranted a more serious charge of possession with intent to deliver, Threet said.
Felony possession carries up to 10 years in prison, but because Jones is an accused first-time offender and not charged with selling drugs, he’s a candidate for Washington County Drug Court.
Drug court is a diversion program where offenders have stringent drug testing, counseling and recovery obligations that can last up to a year.
While Jones had not applied to drug court Monday, another NFL football player is in the program while in preseason play.
Defensive tackle Marcus Harrison, a rookie with the Chicago Bears, was accepted into drug court earlier this year by Judge Mary Ann Gunn.
Harrison, 24, also a former Razorback, submits to random drug tests while traveling with the Bears and must return to Fayetteville to finish drug court when the NFL season ends, Gunn said Monday.
Harrison attends the required weekly individual, group and family counseling and therapy sessions and is in 100 percent compliance, Gunn said.
“There was certainly a lot of discussion and thought on my part before I decided if Marcus could play professional football and be in drug court,” she said.
“The [Bears ] management came and met with me personally before the draft, and they continue to give me regular updates on Marcus’ progress. He’s doing an exemplary job, and the Chicago Bears are really staying on top of things.”
Fayetteville police arrested Harrison in August 2007 with an Ecstasy pill and two marijuana cigarettes in his car, according to a police report.
In order to be accepted in drug court, an offender must admit an addiction problem and undergo an assessment.
Jones hasn’t commented on his arrest, but his father issued a statement after the arrest saying the drugs didn’t belong to his son.
“We want to make it clear that Matt was not in possession of any drugs, but that there were drugs in the vehicle and were located in the closest proximity to Matt. He does not claim any responsibility for the drugs,” Steve Jones’ statement to KNWA-TV in Fayetteville read in part.
Jones was arrested with former Arkansas tight end Jared Hicks, 25, and Benjamin Cook, 26. Hicks and Cook were charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Their cases are pending in Fayetteville District Court.
Police said in a report that Jones was in the back seat of a Toyota 4 Runner when an officer spotted him using a credit card to chop and scrape a white powdery substance that checked out to be cocaine.
The arrest happened about 12: 30 a. m. in a parking lot behind 313 W. Dickson St. Information for this article was contributed by The Associated Press.
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