As I read this article from Barrett Sallee from my air conditioned office, I think how the prosecutor is right. I should be the only one subjected to laws of the land. Not the hard working football players of the world that sweat. They should be able to do as they please.
After a month of speculation, the fate of Alabama offensive lineman Cam Robinson and defensive back Laurence “Hootie” Jones has come into focus.
They’re clear.
The duo was arrested in May in Monroe, Louisiana, and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and illegal carrying of a weapon. Robinson was also charged with felony possession of a stolen firearm.
According to KNOE, Ouachita Parish District Attorney Jerry Jones will not move forward with the charges because of insufficient evidence.
“I want to emphasize once again that the main reason I’m doing this is that I refuse to ruin the lives of two young men who have spent their adolescence and teenage years working and sweating while we were all in the air conditioning,” Jones said, according to KNOE.
Wait…what?
So because Robinson and Jones—who are both from Monroe—play college football and work hard at it, they don’t have to abide by laws and were somehow granted legal immunity?
Really?
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This isn’t a commentary on the guilt or innocence of Robinson or Jones. As Cody Worsham of Tiger Rag noted on Twitter, however, the arresting officer’s report suggests sufficient evidence existed for the case to proceed.
Cam Robinson, Hootie Jones not prosecuted due to “insufficient evidence.” Arresting officer’s report. Thoughts?
In a park after hours? Check.
Smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle? Check.
Jones’ handgun in plain sight? Check.
Reason to search the vehicle? Check.
Marijuana in plain sight? Check.
Stolen handgun found under the seat? Check.
That certainly sounds like enough evidence to move forward.
If these events happened to me on a random Monday night, do you think my case would go to trial? In Ouachita Parish, of course it would. Because I’m writing this under a cool vent that’s pumping air conditioning and not hitting a tackling dummy.
That’s not how the legal system is supposed to work.
Laws are laws. We are not in a position to say definitively if laws were broken. But not moving forward with a case because of who someone is—rather than what they did—is not how the legal system is supposed to work.
What’s even more concerning is that this was a legal road game for Robinson and Jones, who, despite being from the area, play for Alabama—one of LSU’s biggest rivals. That should put a swift end to the conspiracy theory that had representatives of the Crimson Tide putting pressure on the locals behind the scenes.
This is just another example of football’s power over society.
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When placed in a high-profile position with a potential case against Robinson—one of the best tackles in college football and likely an early pick in next year’s NFL draft—Ouachita Parish chose football as the primary reason to give special treatment to somebody who broke the law.
That’s a sad reflection of our society.
If Robinson received the stolen weapon in a way other than stealing it himself and didn’t deserve the felony charge, say that. If that reduction renders the case as one that isn’t worth the time of the legal system, say that. If there actually is insufficient evidence to proceed with charges or the evidence detailed in the report is inadmissible for some reason—as the attorney for the two players suggested to AL.com’s Michael Casagrande—specify what the case is lacking and why.
Don’t say that the “main reason” for not moving forward with the case is because Robinson and Jones are college football players.
That sets a horrible example for players who are in Ouachita Parish in the future.
I’ll now return to my air-conditioned office, where I’m subject to the laws of society.
