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New England Patriots player busted for pot.
By Laurel J. Sweet
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - Updated 2h ago
Patriots sophomore defensive back Willie Andrews pleaded not guilty this afternoon to a pot possession charge at a proceeding seemingly designed to keep the football player out of sight inside Lowell District Court.
None of the facts in the case were read in court today and Andrews, 24, did not show his face inside court, but a police report obtained by the Herald states police pulled him over and then detected a "strong, pungent odor."
Andrews, according to the report, told police he had "pot hidden in his groin area" and police said they then found two to three ounces more of marijuana under a seat.
Lowell Police Superintendent Ken Lavallee said, in all, Andrews had a half-pound of pot on him with a street value of $500. He said the Texas native was in Lowell visiting a friend, but would not elaborate further.
Andrews, released on personal recognizance and a bail warning, later dashed from the back of the Lowell courthouse jumping into the front passenger seat of a silver sedan which veered away from news photographers.
He faces charges of marijuana possession with intent to distribute and driving an unregistered motor vehicle, authorities say. Sources said he was arrested this morning on Middlesex Street near the campus of the University of Massachusetts in Lowell.
Police were tipped off to possible drug activity and responded, authorities said.
Andrews, of Mansfield, must check in with a probation officer if he plans to leave the state, the court ruled. If he violates probation, he was warned, he could be jailed for up to 60 days.
Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Richard Mucci is also asking that Andrews be made to forfeit the $6,808 which was on his person when arrested, according to court testimony.
The Patriots [team stats] released a statement this afternoon holding back comment while the case is pending.
"The conduct of our players is very important to the New England Patriots [team stats]. We are aware of the report regarding Willie Andrews, but will not comment publicly on pending legal matters. As is our policy, team discipline will be handled internally," the team stated.
Andrews, who the Pats drafted with their final pick in 2006, made a name for himself on Oct. 10, when he returned a 77-yard kickoff return against the Miami Dolphins [team stats] to score his first NFL touchdown.
He is a graduate of Baylor University.
Andrews spent time in jail as a high schooler, but straightened his life out to star in college, the Herald reported the day after he was drafted by the Patriots.
“I’ve been facing these challenges my whole life,” Andrews said in April of 2006.
It was also previously reported that Andrews was arrested in his hometown of Longview, Texas, the summer before his freshman year of college when his car stalled on the highway and a trooper found a .25 caliber pistol in the trunk.
Andrews was already on two years probation for a criminal mischief conviction at the time and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, serving 10 before beginning Baylor’s preseason workouts, the Herald reported.
“That gave me my first sense of being in the real world, when your parents can’t do anything for you and you have to face your actions and be a man,” he told the Herald at the time.
LiveLeak.com - New England Patriots player busted for pot.
By Laurel J. Sweet
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - Updated 2h ago
Patriots sophomore defensive back Willie Andrews pleaded not guilty this afternoon to a pot possession charge at a proceeding seemingly designed to keep the football player out of sight inside Lowell District Court.
None of the facts in the case were read in court today and Andrews, 24, did not show his face inside court, but a police report obtained by the Herald states police pulled him over and then detected a "strong, pungent odor."
Andrews, according to the report, told police he had "pot hidden in his groin area" and police said they then found two to three ounces more of marijuana under a seat.
Lowell Police Superintendent Ken Lavallee said, in all, Andrews had a half-pound of pot on him with a street value of $500. He said the Texas native was in Lowell visiting a friend, but would not elaborate further.
Andrews, released on personal recognizance and a bail warning, later dashed from the back of the Lowell courthouse jumping into the front passenger seat of a silver sedan which veered away from news photographers.
He faces charges of marijuana possession with intent to distribute and driving an unregistered motor vehicle, authorities say. Sources said he was arrested this morning on Middlesex Street near the campus of the University of Massachusetts in Lowell.
Police were tipped off to possible drug activity and responded, authorities said.
Andrews, of Mansfield, must check in with a probation officer if he plans to leave the state, the court ruled. If he violates probation, he was warned, he could be jailed for up to 60 days.
Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Richard Mucci is also asking that Andrews be made to forfeit the $6,808 which was on his person when arrested, according to court testimony.
The Patriots [team stats] released a statement this afternoon holding back comment while the case is pending.
"The conduct of our players is very important to the New England Patriots [team stats]. We are aware of the report regarding Willie Andrews, but will not comment publicly on pending legal matters. As is our policy, team discipline will be handled internally," the team stated.
Andrews, who the Pats drafted with their final pick in 2006, made a name for himself on Oct. 10, when he returned a 77-yard kickoff return against the Miami Dolphins [team stats] to score his first NFL touchdown.
He is a graduate of Baylor University.
Andrews spent time in jail as a high schooler, but straightened his life out to star in college, the Herald reported the day after he was drafted by the Patriots.
“I’ve been facing these challenges my whole life,” Andrews said in April of 2006.
It was also previously reported that Andrews was arrested in his hometown of Longview, Texas, the summer before his freshman year of college when his car stalled on the highway and a trooper found a .25 caliber pistol in the trunk.
Andrews was already on two years probation for a criminal mischief conviction at the time and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, serving 10 before beginning Baylor’s preseason workouts, the Herald reported.
“That gave me my first sense of being in the real world, when your parents can’t do anything for you and you have to face your actions and be a man,” he told the Herald at the time.
LiveLeak.com - New England Patriots player busted for pot.
