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Update:
The charges against Patriots CB Jack Jones were dropped by the Suffolk County DA, according to Chris Mason of MassLive.
Jones agreed to one year of pre-trial probation and 48 hours of community service.
Jack Jones should be able to play Week 1 against the Eagles unless the leagues chooses to take action against him, under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Original Story:
Patriots cornerback Jack Jones is facing the possibility of over 30 years in prison following his recent arrest at Logan Airport, according to the Boston Globe.
Per statements from the Suffolk District Attorney’s office, Jones is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday on charges of possessing two loaded firearms in his carry-on luggage.
Authorities have indicated that if Jones is convicted and sentenced consecutively on all counts, he could potentially face more than three decades behind bars. However, it is important to note that consecutive sentences are uncommon, with judges typically opting for concurrent penalties.
As of now, Jones’s agent has not responded to requests for comment on the matter, according to the Globe.
The 25-year-old cornerback is facing multiple charges, including two counts of possession of a concealed weapon in a secure area of an airport, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, and possession of a large-capacity feeding device, according to State Police.
The incident occurred on Friday when a trooper was summoned to a security checkpoint at Terminal B after discovering two guns in Jones’s carry-on luggage. He was subsequently booked at the Logan Airport barracks, and bail was set at $50,000.
Yesterday afternoon @BostonLogan (BOS) @TSA officers detected two loaded firearms and ammunition in passenger’s carry-on luggage. This occurred around 5:20 p.m. #travelfail pic.twitter.com/0FLeLT0H4v
— TSA_NewEngland (@TSA_NewEngland) June 17, 2023
The TSA confirmed that the firearms were detected during routine X-ray screening of carry-on luggage at the checkpoint.
While the TSA did not mention Jones by name in their statement, they indicated that upon finding the firearm, they alerted the Massachusetts State Police, who took over the situation and made the arrest. It was also revealed that Jones had a ticket for travel to Los Angeles International Airport.
Legal experts, such as Daniel S. Medwed, a law professor at Northeastern University, noted that cases like this present challenges for defense counsel. Medwed explained that defense attorneys would typically seek a plea bargain to resolve the case swiftly and secure a punishment that falls short of the maximum sentence.
The government may choose to offer a plea deal to conserve resources and minimize the risks associated with going to trial. Even in cases with strong evidence, the possibility of a holdout juror leading to a mistrial always exists.
The outcome of Jack Jones’s case will be determined in the coming months as legal proceedings unfold. His future with the New England Patriots and his professional football career could also be in jeopardy pending the resolution of his legal troubles.