Suspended Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly has accepted a plea deal in his felony drug possession case.
The charges against Jolly will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for a year and completes several objectives as part of a pre-trial diversion program. He was facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Jolly will have to serve 160 hours of community service, including 10 speaking engagements on avoiding drug use, as part of the program. He is also forbidden from consuming drugs or alcohol and cannot enter an establishment that serves alcohol.
Jolly will be subject to random alcohol and drug tests.
Jolly will go back to court on Aug. 3 2011. If he’s managed to meet all of the conditions of the deal, the prosecution will dismiss the case. He could later seek to have all the charges expunged from his record.
The NFL, which gave Jolly an indefinite suspension, will allow him to apply for reinstatement after the Super Bowl.
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