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Irvin surrenders on cocaine charge
Updated: Sunday June 24, 2001 1:24 AM
DALLAS (AP) -- Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin surrendered to police Saturday night, one day after Denton County authorities issued an arrest warrant on a felony cocaine possession charge. Irvin surrendered to the Duncanville Police Department about 7:05 p.m. Saturday, said Keith Bilbrey, a department spokesman. Irvin was arraigned immediately, posted a $2,500 bail bond and was released at 8:05 p.m., Bilbrey said. "He was very professional, very courteous," Bilbrey said. Irvin's attorney, Howard Shapiro, said at a Friday news conference that Irvin would turn himself in at an undisclosed location to avoid media scrutiny. Denton County authorities had said Irvin could turn himself in and post bond at any law enforcement agency in the state. The charge stems from Irvin's Aug. 9 arrest at a North Dallas apartment where law officers said they found marijuana and other drugs. Less than two months earlier, the former football star had completed four years of deferred probation on a no-contest plea to felony cocaine possession.
If convicted on the felony cocaine possession charge, Irvin could face six months to two years in jail and up to a $10,000 fine. Efforts by The Associated Press to reach Shapiro on Saturday were unsuccessful. Shapiro said Friday that Irvin planned to plead innocent and ask for a jury trial. Irvin, who retired from football in July of last year, has been adamant about his innocence in the latest case. He said he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shapiro was incredulous at Assistant District Attorney Lee Ann Breading's remark that prosecutors will likely recommend jail time rather than probation because of Irvin's previous offenses. "I would say that's the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard," Shapiro said. "If you can tell me that you believe that Michael Irvin deserves to go to the penitentiary for what you know about this case, then my whole system of what's right or wrong is out of whack." FBI spokeswoman Lori Bailey said the case evolved after officers with the Collin-Denton County Drug Task Force, of which the FBI is a part, attempted to arrest Rhonda Adaham on a federal warrant at her apartment. Adaham was not there, but her sister, Nelly Adaham, and Irvin were found and arrested. Nelly Adaham was indicted on the same charge as Irvin, but Rhonda Adaham was not indicted, Breading said. Breading couldn't comment on specific evidence presented to the grand jury, nor would she discuss the nature of the arrest, why Irvin was at the apartment, or how he knew the women. Authorities said they found less than 2 ounces of marijuana along with ecstasy pills. Irvin was not charged after the arrest. Irvin, a member of three Super Bowl champion teams with the Cowboys, established himself over 12 seasons as one of the NFL's best receivers. The final catch of his career was No. 750, tying him for 10th in league history. He holds every significant receiving record for the Cowboys and is ninth in receiving yards in NFL history.
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Thursday on a felony charge of possessing less than a gram of cocaine stemming from an arrest last summer. 
