Judge gives Packers DE Johnny Jolly tougher bond conditions on codeine possession charge

Judge tightens restrictions for Packers’ Jolly

HOUSTON — A flyer advertising a party he allegedly hosted at a Houston nightclub earlier this month got Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly into trouble with a judge on 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 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 does not 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 her client’s name is often used to promote “social functions” and there was no evidence he attended the party. She said Jolly has not tested positive for drug or alcohol use since his arrest.

While Anderson did not 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 Jolly 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, 27, 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 Jolly had actually hosted the party or attended the event.

“We look forward to our day in court,” she 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 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 his car over because of excessive noise coming from amplified bass music. Jolly, 27, 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. He was reindicted in December 2009. If convicted, Jolly 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.

He is a restricted free agent who has not signed a one-year qualifying offer from the Packers and skipped voluntary workouts this week.