New England Patriots cornerback Jack Jones pleaded not guilty to gun-related charges in East Boston District Court on Tuesday.
Jones posted $30,000 cash bail after his arrest on Friday, and the bond remains in place.
Jones’ next court date is set for August 18, when the probable cause trial will take place. The day before the Patriots’ preseason Game 2 in Green Bay. The Patriots are scheduled to practice with the Packers on August 16-17.
Jones, 25, was arrested Friday after two firearms were found in his carry-on at Boston’s Logan International Airport. According to the Suffolk County, Massachusetts District Attorney’s Office, he could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted on all charges and served consecutively on each charge. .
Jones’ attorney, Rosemary C. Scapicchio, told reporters after the arraignment, “He never intended to bring a gun into Logan Airport that day.” “And I expect evidence to show that he had no idea what was going on.”
“All Jones wants to do is play football,” added Scapicchio. “He doesn’t want any distractions at all.”
Massachusetts State Police charged Jones with carrying a concealed weapon in an airport secure area, possessing ammunition without a firearm identification card, illegally possessing a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, and possessing a large-capacity feeder. indicted on two counts. device.
A fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Jones appeared in 13 games (two starts) as a rookie last season, recording 30 tackles, two interceptions, six passes defended and one fumble recovery.
He was suspended by the team in December for unspecified team rule violations, ending his rookie season.
Jones was arrested on felony charges of breaking into a restaurant in 2018 when he was a student in Southern California. He eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree misdemeanor charges, but was fired from the University of Southern California for academic reasons. He was also suspended from Arizona State University for getting into a practice brawl during the 2020 season.
Scapicchio criticized those who called Jones a “thug” on social media after Jones’ arrest.
“It was social media and media that made him a thug and labeled him a thug without any evidence,” Mr Scapicchio said on Tuesday. “Because he’s a young black man, all of a sudden he’s a thug. That’s what happened here. This is disrespectful to Mr. Jones and every other black man in America. This is me.” It’s the systemic racism we deal with in our court system every day.” “
–Field level media
