DA cites insufficient evidence in not prosecuting Bama players

[FLKnight]

Any reason at all that this wasn't expected?

http://espn.go.com/college-football...mson-tide-players-cam-robinson-laurence-jones

Prosecution of Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson and safety Laurence "Hootie" Jones has been declined, according to a filing from the Ouachita Parish (Louisiana) district attorney's office.

The filing cites insufficient evidence, for Robinson, on charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and illegal possession of a stolen firearm and, for Jones, possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Both were arrested in mid-May in their hometown of Monroe, Louisiana. A court appearance set for late last week was delayed before Monday's news.

"I want to emphasize once again that the main reason I'm doing this is that I refuse to ruin the lives of two young men who have spent their adolescence and teenage years, working and sweating, while we were all in the air conditioning," district attorney Jerry Jones told KNOE-TV.

According to the police report, an officer approached the players' vehicle at a park that was closed and smelled marijuana. The report alleges that a bag of marijuana and a handgun were in plain sight, and a stolen handgun was found under the passenger seat.

Robinson was allegedly driving the vehicle with Jones as his passenger. The stolen-firearms charge Robinson faced was a felony, while the other charges for Jones and himself were misdemeanors.

Alabama coach Nick Saban hasn't announced any punishment for the two players, saying multiple times that he wanted to gather more information about the arrests.

Robinson is an All-SEC left tackle entering his junior season. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound junior, started every game since his freshman year in 2014. ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has him as the No. 7 player on his early 2017 Big Board.

Jones, a reserve in his first two years at Alabama, was widely regarded as one of the top safety prospects coming out of high school.

 

[IMARUFAN]

I have no doubt Saban will severely punish these guys.

Probably make them sit out the 1st series of their game against Western Kentucky.

 

[Plum Street]

Listen they should be punished , but it was weed and a handgun . Yes , they shouldn't have had either and its against the law, but no one got hurt here . Slap wrist, go win some football games .

 

[CornerTavern]

I'm sure any fine upstanding young man would get the same treatment from the DA... they just happen to be football players, that's all.

 

[Caliknight]

Throw it in the Stanford swimmer bucket.

 

[rurichdog]

I have no doubt Saban will severely punish these guys.

Yes, I'm sure the arresting officer and District Attorney will be punished for even taking things this far

 

[Beancounter88]

This is an absolute joke. Of course, there's no local newspaper or TV that would dare expose the local idiots for their "justice" or the football programs the kids play for. Imagine the Star-Ledger having a field day with this. I thought the DA's job was to prosecute people that break the law. I didn't think he was allowed to decide which criminals he wanted to go after - you know, like be unbiased. Sheesh, Flood tried to help a kid qualify academically and you would have thought he was a convicted murderer.

 

[Knightmoves]

Since this happened in La and not Alabama I'm surprised the judge didn't throw the book at them. Apparently the judge is not an LSU Tiger fan.

 

[MrsScrew]

 

[PIN2WIN624]

"I want to emphasize once again that the main reason I'm doing this is that I refuse to ruin the lives of two young men who have spent their adolescence and teenage years, working and sweating, while we were all in the air conditioning," district attorney Jerry Jones told KNOE-TV.

REALLY?? That is why you are not prosecuting, because they practiced and played hard. He is basically saying because they practice and play football in the heat, we decided to give them a pass. I would expect nothing else from SEC territory.

 

[MrsScrew]

Listen they should be punished , but it was weed and a handgun . Yes , they shouldn't have had either and its against the law, but no one got hurt here . Slap wrist, go win some football games .

are you being sarcastic? an illegal stolen firearm is a felony for which you or I would be spending some time in prison for. The coddling of athletes (these 2, the rapist from Stanford et. al ) needs to stop. They are not above the law because they sweated while working out.

 

[cicero grimes]

They played for the right Alabama. Had they played for Southern Alabama it would be 15 years to life. Prosecutor might need police protection if LSU loses to Bama on a late int by the safety.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

of course...[pfftt][poop]:cop:

 

[MozRU]

You think they care what us Yankees think?

 

[RUSONIC]

Hey, can we please wait until they actually kill someone before we ruin the lives of theses 2 young men. I mean if they shot the cop or some bystander then I could see 2 two game suspension. But just getting caught with a stolen gun and weed, really? These guys should be praised for getting that gun off the streets.

 

[RU76]

So the arresting officer said handgun was in plain sight which justifies a search finding the stolen gun under a seat? Cop's credibility is in question, if there was only one gun in the car. So why not make the defense lawyer move to exclude illegally seized evidence? If a judge rules that the gun was out of sight and there was no skunk weed smell, the charges will be dismissed. But I suppose everything will be OK as long as the players use up their eligibility before they mix drugs with guns again and someone ends up in a coffin. Maybe OTL should scrutinize the prosecutor to see if he has a new 40 foot boat in the water.

 

[MozRU]

I guess they don't think "broken window's" policy works in the south.

 

[RUSK97]

I have no doubt Saban will severely punish these guys.

Probably make them sit out the 1st series of their game against Western Kentucky.

Saban is a no nonsense type of guy. Discipline is essential on his team. I'm sure they'll have to sit at least a whole quarter of play.