A little more than two years after being charged with biting a Fayetteville police officer in a scuffle outside his girlfriend’s home, Tennessee Titan Adam “Pacman"� Jones stood in a Fayette County courtroom and pled guilty to felony obstruction.
Flanked by two attorneys -- Manny Arora of Apelanta and civil attorney Worrick Robinson of Nashville -- Jones entered his guilty plea under Alford vs. North Carolina -- not admitting guilt but stating if the case went to trial there was a good chance of a conviction.
Superior Court Judge Paschal English accepted the plea, but refused to give Jones first offender status.
“I will not accept this under first offender status which means you will be a felon, a felon for life,"� English told the suspended NFL defensive back.
“I don’t know how the NFL will handle this, but I do hope you make it back to the football field one day. You have a lot to offer. But I will not treat you any differently from anyone else. "�
English sentenced Jones to three years probation and fined him a total $575.
“A number of us in this courtroom today have watched you on the field and have been amazed at your physical ability,"� said English.
“And I have listened to the many, many admirable things about you today.
“I’m impressed with the benevolent work you have done with law enforcement agents in Tennessee. But I can’t understand how someone could act one way in supporting officers, then act the way the state was prepared to show you acted in Fayetteville that day.
“It’s inconsistent."�
Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard told the court that Jones was arrested on Feb. 6, 2006, when Jones and another person were sitting in a car in front of his girlfriend’s house on Argonne Drive around 1 a.m.
“The officers told Jones and the other person to stay in the car, but they got out and walked into the house,"� said Ballard.
“A fight ensued and during the scuffle, Jones bit a Fayetteville Police office on the hand."�
Robinson, Jones’ civil attorney for Nashville, painted a picture of the former Westlake football star to the court -- referring to him as “an impressive person, a good man who has a good heart."�
“I’ve known him for over two years, and I’ve had the opportunity to be friends with him and work with him during many highs and lows in his life the past few years,"� said Robinson.
Robinson said Jones has been involved with many needy causes in Nashville the past two years, including working with police officers and speaking to inmates, working with the local boys and girls clubs, speaking to high school students in Tennessee and at Westlake, and setting up a foundation with the cancer society in the name of his late grandmother.
“And every time he gives a talk, he emphasizes the importance of making good choices in life,"� said Robinson.
Robinson told the court that Jones’ suspension from the NFL this year has “crippled him financially."�
“He is taking care of 12 people in his family, including his two-year-old daughter,"� said Robinson.
“He is impressive as a father, and keeps her for weeks at a time by himself.
“But he’s had no income and if he doesn’t get an income soon, bankruptcy may be the only option. Some of his property is already in foreclosure."�
Arora stated that Jones had tried to apologize to Fayetteville officers in the past, and would like to address those in the courtroom.
“I am sorry,"� said Jones, who turned to face several officers. “This was a misunderstanding, and will never happen again.
“I am sorry for my actions."�
Jones had initially been charged with two additional misdemeanor obstruction charges in the incident for “snatching his arm away from the officer trying to arrest him, and not stopping when police told him to,"� said Ballard.
Jones’ probation will be transferred to Tennessee.
