Former University of Alabama football player Jimmy Johns will serve one year in Tuscaloosa County Jail after pleading guilty to felony drug charges today.
<!--
AC =
--> <!-- GRAY BOX ARTICLE CONTENT--> <style> .art_main_pic { width:250px; float:left; clear:left; } </style> <!-- /GRAY BOX ARTICLE CONTENT--> Johns was charged with five counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance on June 24, 2008. He pleaded guilty to one charge of drug distribution and another of drug possession, according to court documents. The remaining charges were dropped.
Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Charles Malone sentenced the former running back turned linebacker to 15 years on the distribution charge and 10 years on the possession charge. He ordered that Johns serve one year in jail and the remainder on probation. He will be on supervised probation and was ordered to undergo drug screening tests for three years after his release from jail.
Attorney Jim Roberts said that Johns addressed the judge and his family in court.
“I just want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to better my life, and I tell my parents and my family I’m sorry for everything I have put you through,” he said. “I want y’all to forgive me for what I placed upon our family and myself. I want to tell everybody I’m sorry for hurting myself and this community and my family.”
Authorities said Johns sold cocaine to confidential informants working with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force five times over three days, once in the UA football complex parking lot. Agents had audio and video recordings of the transactions. UA head coach Nick Saban dismissed Johns from the team after his arrest. He withdrew from UA and moved back to Mississippi with his family.
“It is our prayer and our belief that Jimmy has turned his life around and that in the future, he will be a positive influence on other young men and women,” Roberts said.
