Would Joe Average Have Received This Disposition?

From today's MA Lawyers Weekly Digest:

"Patriots' Jack Jones gets probation, community service in firearms case

Associated Press//September 6, 2023

New England Patriots defensive back Jack Jones has agreed to serve one year of probation and 48 hours of community service in exchange for prosecutors dropping eight of the nine weapons charges he faced in connection with his June arrest at a security checkpoint at Boston's Logan Airport for allegedly having two loaded guns in his carry-on bag.

The deal was reached during a hearing on Sept. 5 in Boston Municipal Court.

Jones, 25, was arrested in June after two firearms were found in what police identified as being his carry-on luggage. He was charged with two counts each of unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a large-capacity magazine and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card. He was also charged with an airport security violation.

A Sept. 5 court filing showed that the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office had dropped all the weapons charges. He received pre-trial probation for the security violation.

In a motion stating its decision not to continue to pursue the case further, the DA's Office said it had determined that it could not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt 'that Mr. Jones had knowledge that he possessed the firearms in his bag at the time of the incident.'     [Really? How else did they get there?]

'He is grateful to have this incident resolved and he is looking forward to Sunday night's game,' Jones' attorney, Rosemary Scapicchio of Boston, told The Associated Press.

Although Jones' legal case has been resolved, it is yet to be determined whether he will face further discipline under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Jones has spoken only briefly since his arrest, referring all questions on his case to his attorney.

'When I get out here on the football field, it's all ball,' Jones said in August. 'I just come out here to play ball and give it my all, and do what I'm supposed to for the team.'

Despite his pending case, he made the Patriots' initial 53-man roster."