Former Chicago Bears wide receiver Sam Hurd is preparing a guilty plea to his drug conspiracy charge, according to a report by Jared Hopkins of the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday. Less than a week before the start of his federal drug trial, one of Hurd's attorneys, Jay Ethington, told the Tribune that the guilty plea is in the works.
Former Bears receiver Sam Hurd preparing guilty plea for drug conspiracy charge
Former Chicago Bears wide receiver Sam Hurd is preparing a guilty plea for a federal drug conspiracy charge in advance of his April 15 court date.
Jonathan Daniel
Hurd’s trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, and his charges include drug conspiracy, which consisted of allegedly conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana between July 2011 and June 6, 2012, according to the Tribune.
When he was first arrested in December of 2011, there was talk of a potential plea deal, but it fell apart when Hurd was levied additional charges for possessing both marijuana and cocaine while out on bond. When it comes to those specific charges, Hurd has already plead not guilty.
As to whether or not there will be a plea deal at this point in the proceedings, that won’t be known for some time, as the U.S. Attorney’s Office obviously isn’t gong to come out and give that kind of information away. Hurd, who is currently in prison, should have an idea of where things stand prior to the trial actually beginning, though.
The maximum sentence for the one charge (as opposed to the six charges initially imposed on him) is 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine.
Hurd wasn’t a very successful NFL receiver prior to being released and effectively booted out of the NFL. He appeared in 12 games for the Bears in 2011, totaling 109 yards on eight receptions and scoring no touchdowns.
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