HOUSTON -- A flyer advertising a party that he allegedly hosted at a Houston nightclub earlier this month got Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly into trouble with a judge Friday, resulting in tougher restrictions for his bond on a pending 2008 felony drug charge.
During a court hearing, prosecutor Todd Keagle asked state District Judge Mike Anderson to raise Jolly's bond and order that he undergo additional drug testing after finding the football player's picture on a flyer saying he hosted a May 7 party at a Houston nightclub called "The Blue Door."
While Jolly's bond doesn't stop him from going to nightclubs, it prevents him from using drugs or alcohol. Keagle said Jolly had been frequenting nightclubs since his July 2008 arrest outside another Houston club for illegally possessing at least 200 grams of codeine.
Jolly's attorney, Michelle Beck, told Anderson that her client's name often is used to promote "social functions" and there was no evidence he attended the party. She said Jolly hasn't tested positive for drug or alcohol use since his arrest.
While Anderson didn't raise Jolly's $10,000 bond, he ordered him to submit a hair sample for additional drug testing, adhere to a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew, be evaluated by a drug counselor and to not attend "clubs or any other establishment where drugs or alcohol are used."
"I had better not see any more flyers like this," Anderson told Jolly, holding up the rectangular, color glossy flyer that had a photograph of the player wearing a blue polo shirt, a cap on backward and a large gold watch next to a headshot of Jolly in his Packers helmet.
"Yes, sir," Jolly responded.
Anderson also had questions about Jolly hosting the May 7 party two days after missing a previous court hearing because of appendicitis. Beck said Jolly had been hospitalized, but after the court hearing, she declined to say if he had actually hosted the party or attended the event.
"We look forward to our day in court," Beck said.
Jolly's case had been set for trial on Friday, but was delayed due to the issues with his bond. The next court hearing was set for May 28.
Jolly, 27, was arrested after 1 a.m. on July 8, 2008, in the parking lot of a Houston club known for drug and gun use.
A police gang unit pulled over Jolly's car because of excessive noise coming from amplified bass music. Jolly was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance after police "smelled the strong odor of codeine" in cups in the vehicle, according to the police report. Lab tests subsequently confirmed the codeine.
The charges against Jolly were dropped in July 2009 so lab technicians could become proficient with a new piece of equipment that measures codeine. Jolly was reindicted in December 2009. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Jolly attended high school in Houston and played for Texas A&M University. He was selected by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
Jolly is a restricted free agent who hasn't signed a one-year tender offer from the Packers and skipped voluntary workouts this week.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
