What once appeared to be a garden-variety drug possession case against Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly has taken on a much more troubling posture.
Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that court records indicate an intention by prosecutors to attempt to prove at trial that Johnny “bought, sold, funded, transported and aided in the buying, selling, funding and transportation of illegal narcotics including cocaine and marijuana” from 2006 through May 2008.
The information comes from a disclosure made by prosecutors of a plan to “use extraneous offenses and prior convictions for impeachment and/or punishment” in connection with Jolly’s upcoming trial on codeine possession charges.
In English, this means that, while Jolly isn’t charged (yet) with buying, selling, funding, transporting, and/or abetting the purchase, sale, funding, or transportation of cocaine and marijuana, prosecutors have placed Jolly’s lawyer on notice of an intention to introduce such evidence. At trial, it would be used as “other act” evidence, similar to the manner in which the lawyer representing the Nevada woman who has sued Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for sexual assault would attempt to introduce proof that he sexually assaulted a college student in Milledgeville, Georgia. The evidence also could be used in the sentencing phase, if Jolly is convicted.
Jolly’s lawyer, Michelle E. Beck, scoffs at the development. “I could file a notice of intent to prove I’m Santa Claus, but that doesn’t mean it’s true,” she said, per Bedard.
Bedard explains that the evidence comes from a witness who will testify that Jolly funded drug deals. Bedards also writes of a possibility that Jolly could face federal charges in this regard.
The allegations make Jolly’s ongoing ability to play NFL football somewhat curious, and it remains to be seen whether evidence suggesting repeat offenses could get Jolly the same kind of treatment that Roethlisberger experienced in April.