Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson pleaded not guilty to charges of trafficking marijuana on Monday in a Kenton County court room. The charges stem from an investigation dating back to the third week of the season when a package of 2.5 pounds of marijuana was tracked from California to Simpson's Northern Kentucky home. It was originally reported that there were six more pounds of marijuana found at his home but that has been proven untrue.
Simpson was charged with a Class D felony which is punishable by one to five years in prison. FOX19 News interviewed Kenton County Prosecutor Rob Sanders who told them that Simpson has three options and one of those options could help him avoid time behind bars.
One option would have been for Simpson to plea guilty, in which case Judge Gregory Bartlett may not sentence him to any time behind bars but instead to a probation or diversion program. Another option would be to take the case to a bench trial, in which case Judge Bartlett would decide whether or not Simpson is guilty and do the sentencing. The last option is for Simpson to argue his case in front of a jury. However, if the jury sentences Simpson to prison time, probation would not be an option.
According to Bartlett, most people get probation instead of time behind bars if the plead guilty."Not speaking to Mr. Simpson's case in particular, but I will say in general it is much more common that if someone is going to get probation it is after a guilty plea rather than a trial," Sanders said.
"Jury trials in felony cases can take 2, 3, 4 days sometimes," said Mike Allen, FOX19 legal analyst.
"Judges like to avoid that if possible. And if the defense lawyer knows that if he goes to jury trial and loses, it will be a stiffer penalty, it encourages plea bargains, let's put it that way. I'm not saying it's the right way it should be or the way it should be in a perfect world but in the real world that's what happens, that's the way it works."
According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, the Bengals receiver pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is due in court again on Feb. 20. Simpson is set to be a free agent on March 13.
0 recs | 52 comments
No offense to Jason
But the original report is kind of weak— he says he doesn’t have knowledge of the case, and anyone who watches Law & Order knows you get a reduced sentence if you plead out.
emeybee - January 31, 2012 via mobile
3 choices
The Toker
The Smoker
or the midnight Joker
Bengalsfan024 - January 31, 2012
Joker, Smoker, Midnight Toker
Oregonbengalsfan - January 31, 2012
On another note
Tom Petty does put on a badass show… even as old as he is… and you should see the place “light up” when he performs that song
Oregonbengalsfan - January 31, 2012
RE:
The Steve Miller Band sings that song. Not Tom Petty. Just FYI :)
Anthony Cosenza - January 31, 2012
Well Tom Petty has covered it
but yes you are correct
Oregonbengalsfan - January 31, 2012
Your thinking of last dance with mary jane
By Tom Petty
Bigcatdaddy - January 31, 2012 via Android app
Yeah I think that might be the song I am thinking of
but I also could have sworn Tom Petty covered Joker too… maybe not
Oregonbengalsfan - January 31, 2012
Similar style song I can see how you think it'd be a Tom Petty song.
But it’s fo sho Steve Miller Band :)
Luke - January 31, 2012
dangit
Bengalsfan024 - January 31, 2012
FAIL....lol
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
Or Take the Money and Run lol
Bigcatdaddy - January 31, 2012 via Android app
He has to plea bargain.
If he is convicted of a felony, regardless of the sentence, he will be suspended from football for a year, possibly more. His best choice is to get reduced to a misdemeanor with probation, fine, community service, he’s probably only looking at 4-6 games and it will be over relatively quickly.
goffchile - January 31, 2012
yup
palewook - January 31, 2012
plea...if you can
You dont admit guilt and the its a reduced sentence….take your lumps and move on…Its just weed…come on…I dont care if its 10 tons….Its weed…I get it, gateway drug and all that….come on man…time to grow up american society….1952 is over
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
My theory
here in the next 10-15 years a lot of the old establishment politicians will either die off or retire and we can finally progress as a society, we have this mentality in Congress and other upper political areas that the world is still in 1952….see Fox News….its just old people terrified of change…kinda the same thing with real estate…There is still a significant portion of nice homes and properties that are owned by seniors, once they die off, the younger can progress in the housing market, just tons of great properties that have been owned since the 50s….I know its terrible..but its the truth
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
That's what I said 10-15 years ago
Evil Monkey - January 31, 2012
lol
I keep telling myself this theory….
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
its not politicians driving policy
they only propose and sign off on it.
PACs drive policy.
palewook - January 31, 2012
PACs
slimy loophole isnt it….Colbert really is exposing how pathetically dirty it is…no oversight and it also adds a buffer between the actual politician…like Mitt saying he hasnt seen the TV ads that his PAC created…..It was the PAC…not me
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
Liberalism is not the answer.
Those seniors worked for money and this generation feels entitled to it.
Hoke Hogan - January 31, 2012 via mobile
that generation had jobs to work
you could graduate high school and go get a job to support a family…just keep watching fox new…nice post…lol…liberalism….Oh I love a good fox news bulletin point..havent had one yet today
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
Hoke I am a military vet and have been all over the world
what you and the rest of Fox news doesnt understand…is that we are all in this together…WE are government….stop being afraid of change….we must work together to grow as a society…Its not about MY DAMN TAXES…its about the world coming together to find solutions to problems that HELP EVERYONE…not just old rich white people…HOKE= FOXNEWSER = NOTED
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
Pretty sure the rich old white people are the ones that are the ones creating jobs for people...
and hearing you say you want people to die so you can move into their houses for cheap just makes me feel really sad for you. I think you just convinced me to go turn on Fox News after listening to that little rant…
Luke - January 31, 2012
I love it...the famous "job creators"....thanks for the other fox news bullet point
I was kinda joking about the dying off for the real estate…But at the same time…there is tons of awesome property around here that belongs to very, very old people…and I dont think anyone needs to convince you to turn on fox news…job creators….thanks for confirming your intelligence
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
"stop being afraid of change
we must work together to grow as a society…Its not about MY DAMN TAXES…its about the world coming together to find solutions to problems that HELP EVERYONE"
Dawg, I’m with ya, cept lets leave the damn government out of it. Cause the government has gamed you. Ya’ll don’t like something you run to the government, the government regulates it, which raises the price of whatever it is and guess what. your wages don’t follow. So now your out pricing what you want and the next complaint is the companies don’t pay you enough. No, you took the easy route. Instead of not buying the product or boycotting or a novel Idea, compete against the company, and you know create some jobs, most of us would rather look to the government to FORCE someone else to act in a way we want. Because we all know the the government is we, the people, as long as we can force others to live as I see it.
BTW, don’t watch Fox News, don’t listen to repubs who wants me to live by their moral codes and don’t listen to dems who want to enslave me financially and think a woman has a right to privacy but a citizen must report their entire financial life to the government or be penalized. Freedom ain’t what it used to be.
wilky - January 31, 2012
I am with you wilky
I think government CAN work if we get rid of the 50 year terms for some of the congressman and other political figures. THAT is the problem…do you know how much these guys are owned by some donor or large corporate backer…Its beyond crooked..we need 4-8 year term limits just like the president…GET NEW PEOPLE IN THERE, fresh people, with new ideas…that is all I was saying..good post though wilky..
ticalcaldwell - February 1, 2012
lol its deeper than old political views, it has a lot to do with money.
private prisons, pharmachuetical companys, paper companys, cotton companys, gas companys and the drug dealers would be losing out on billions of billions of dollars made while weed is illegal. It would have to take a big change in the white house for this to become a possibility. lol
AMAS85 - January 31, 2012
this is true
That is the way you really find the cause….understand who is financially benefiting from the issue
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
It has everything to do with money
If uncle sam doesn’t get his share, it’s not going to be legal. Weed is different than tobacco. It’s harder to produce a cigarette out of a tobacco plant. You can but I wouldn’t lol. Weed is different, you just dry it and it’s ready to go. So the government would be missing out on a ton of money by legalizing it because people could just grow their own. Being illegal their making a ton of money on fines and ect on people caught with it. Money makes the world go round.
Bigcatdaddy - January 31, 2012 via Android app
That's the key...
…you can grow weed in your closet. That’s why it’s almost impossible to eradicate, despite being illegal and why it would be hard to regulate if it was.
Personally, I think it should be legal, but unfortunately, our criminal system is a business and empty prison beds don’t make any body money.
goffchile - January 31, 2012
But yet we have prison overcrowding...
Oregonbengalsfan - January 31, 2012
excuse to build more prisons
the main problem is the lobbyist system…More money = more lobbyists = more poli$ical pressure….The system is flawed…the prisons are a symptom of the money and power of the created system
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
but the real paradox is that the only ones allowed to change the system
are profiting from the original one…..that is why it is called the root of all evil
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
So prison overcrowding is caused by what?
I thought it was caused by too many people breaking the law and getting caught…
Luke - January 31, 2012
try to stay with us Luke
bigcat was saying that the system itself is designed to have harsher penalties than needed, specifically for weed, therefore feeding the prison system, which is a business. Where do you think the money comes from for the prisoners, come on Foxnews, follow the money……read all of this…take a few notes…think about it…then get back to me when your ready…and dont respond with constitution…..lol
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
Buy your own property!
Hoke Hogan - January 31, 2012 via mobile
?? I have my own property, don't need yours.
Bigcatdaddy - January 31, 2012 via Android app
Old establishment politicians?
Call by their real name, Career Politicians. And they ain’t going anywhere, because they will keep telling you what you want to here as long as they stay in power. Only the names will change.
wilky - January 31, 2012
its a gateway to your couch video games and food
Bengalsfan024 - January 31, 2012
+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Diesel2405 - January 31, 2012
He's got to plea
They delivered a bunch of pot to his house – he’s the “money man” and football player – put that in front of a jury? That equals guily and some time.
Plead guilty, beg for mercy, get probation and move on with your life. It is the system – like it or not.
It won’t be easy for him to catch on somewhere anyway – wait a year it will be tougher..
TX Bengal - January 31, 2012
the odds of winning a felony trial in the usa
are slim. plea deal is the best opportunity for simpson to continue his life as he knows it.
palewook - January 31, 2012
Exactly
They are slim to none. The best thing to do is plea out to a lesser charge. It cost the state or city thousands of dollars to put on a jury trial so they don’t want to do that anyway. If you don’t like their first offer then act like you want to take it to trial by pleading not guilty and dragging it out. Eventually they will come down on their offer.
Bigcatdaddy - January 31, 2012 via Android app
keep in mind the odds of beating a felon charge in trial in the united states
1 in 224.
for the 223 people that took the trial path and lost, the penalties brought against them are much more severe than a plea deal would have brought. the chances of winning an appeal in the usa are even less than beating a felony trial.
palewook - January 31, 2012
good stat
kind of sobering
ticalcaldwell - January 31, 2012
For the Bengals sake
I hope he pleas and only gets a 4 game supsension. Even if we don’t resign him (which I wouldn’t) another team will almost certainly pick him up. With Simpson, Caldwell, Livings, (hopefully not) Collins, and a few other free agents likely walking, our chances of picking up a compisitory pick next year should be pretty good (to go along with the 2nd rounder we get from Oakland:)
biggie22 - January 31, 2012
if he pleas
i fear brown will resign simpson, he’ll be a bargin since he’s only going to be available for 3/4’s of the season. would need time to learn any new teams playbooks (only took him 3 years here). he’s going to get a vet min deal with brown for 1 season.
any team that pays him a ton to play for them is either desperate (see the raiders with almost no draft picks for 2 years) or stupid (please don’t that hard up vikings or rams).
palewook - January 31, 2012
Agree to an extent
But talent can be tantalizing and Jerome has a lot of talent. I’m sure the Bengals the would definitely go the cheap route but I would not be surprised at all to another team desperate for a WR to up the antee a little bit. I don’t think it would be a smart decision but I could definitely see it happening
biggie22 - January 31, 2012
i can see the vikes or rams gambling on rome
considering his ability to learn a playbook, they’re going to be disappointed with him over the contract too..
palewook - January 31, 2012
I agree:)
The one advantage to this and correct me if I’m wrong but I think ussualy most suspended players are actually eligible to participate in the preseason workouts and activities
biggie22 - January 31, 2012
they are
palewook - January 31, 2012
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