Wednesday, November 7, 2001

Sports Briefs

Former Cowboy Newton arrested in Louisiana

ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (AP) — Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nathaniel “Nate” Newton Jr. was arrested with three others when state police confiscated 213 pounds of marijuana from a van on Interstate 10, state police said Tuesday.

Newton, 39, and two others were booked with possession with intent to distribute marijuana on Sunday, said Trooper Willie Williams of Louisiana State Police Troop I. A fourth person, arrested in a separate vehicle with $18,000, was booked with conspiracy to possess narcotics.

Newton is a six-time Pro Bowl player who helped Dallas win three Super Bowls. He spent 14 seasons in the NFL, 13 with Dallas, retiring last year after a year with the Carolina Panthers.

Charge against former star receiver dismissed

DENTON (AP) — A North Texas judge has dismissed a felony cocaine charge against former Dallas Cowboys star receiver Michael Irvin after prosecutors learned that a police officer who was later fired found the drug illegally.

Irvin was expected to hold a news conference Wednesday to discuss the case that arose weeks after his probation ended on an earlier cocaine case and that cost him a new job as a network TV football commentator.

State District Judge Lee Gabriel dismissed the felony charge of possessing less than a gram of cocaine late Monday against Irvin and a woman at prosecutors’ request. Nelly Adham, 22, was arrested with Irvin in August 2000 at a far North Dallas area apartment just inside Denton County.

Irvin was indicted in June, 10 months after he and Adham were arrested at the apartment where law officers said they also found marijuana and ecstasy pills. No charges were ever filed involving those drugs. A trial date had earlier been set for Jan. 14 on the cocaine charge.