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HOUSTON — Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Johnny Jolly was indicted Tuesday on drug possession charges — for a second time — by a Harris County, Texas, grand jury.
Jolly, 26, a Houston native, was arrested there July 8 for possession of at least 200 grams of codeine. Houston police found cups containing codeine syrup in a vehicle driven by Jolly.
Jolly was charged with possession of codeine in the form of cough syrup, which is commonly mixed with soda to make a mind-altering drink called “lean” that originated in the Houston area.
A grand jury initially indicted Jolly on Oct. 1, 2008, but those charges were dropped July 16.
The dismissal hinged on the Houston Police Department crime lab’s ability to measure the amount of codeine in the evidence. New equipment allowed police to test the evidence accurately and allowed the case to move forward, said Donna Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Harris County Assistant District Attorney’s Office said.
The charges filed Tuesday are identical to those filed last year. Jolly faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, though as a first-time offender, he also could be placed on probation.
Jolly’s agent has suggested the cough syrup belonged to someone else in Jolly’s car.
Hawkins said Jolly will be expected to turn himself in to Texas authorities and have an initial court appearance scheduled. Jolly was free on $10,000 bail while the first case was pending.
The deadline for Jolly’s surrender remained unclear, Hawkins said.
Jolly, 26, a Houston native, was arrested there July 8 for possession of at least 200 grams of codeine. Houston police found cups containing codeine syrup in a vehicle driven by Jolly.
Jolly was charged with possession of codeine in the form of cough syrup, which is commonly mixed with soda to make a mind-altering drink called “lean” that originated in the Houston area.
A grand jury initially indicted Jolly on Oct. 1, 2008, but those charges were dropped July 16.
The dismissal hinged on the Houston Police Department crime lab’s ability to measure the amount of codeine in the evidence. New equipment allowed police to test the evidence accurately and allowed the case to move forward, said Donna Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Harris County Assistant District Attorney’s Office said.
The charges filed Tuesday are identical to those filed last year. Jolly faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, though as a first-time offender, he also could be placed on probation.
Jolly’s agent has suggested the cough syrup belonged to someone else in Jolly’s car.
Hawkins said Jolly will be expected to turn himself in to Texas authorities and have an initial court appearance scheduled. Jolly was free on $10,000 bail while the first case was pending.
The deadline for Jolly’s surrender remained unclear, Hawkins said.
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