Packers' Lance Kendricks could face criminal charges in 2017 marijuana possession case

Green Bay Press-Gazette

Green Bay Packers tight end Lance Kendricks warms up before the Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. He faces drug charges in connection to a September 2017 traffic stop.

APPLETON - The Outagamie County District Attorney's office is preparing to file criminal drug charges against Green Bay Packers tight end Lance Kendricks.

The district attorney's office on Wednesday confirmed it expects to charge Kendricks in the near future in connection to a state trooper's discovery of marijuana in Kendricks' vehicle during a 2017 traffic stop on Interstate 41.

Kendricks was initially cited for marijuana possession, an ordinance violation that carries a fine of up to $1,000.

Prosecutors dismissed that citation last week. Details about the new charges were not available Wednesday morning.

According to court records, Kendricks was driving home from a University of Wisconsin football game against Utah State when he was stopped for driving 81 mph in a 70 mph zone at 1:31 a.m. Sept. 2, 2017.

The officer smelled marijuana in the car and a search of the car's glove box turned up a small toiletry-type bag containing marijuana, two packs of rolling papers and a metal grinder, court documents state.

Kendricks was released with a warning for speeding. The citation for possession of marijuana was issued in December.

It is not unusual for charges to be filed long after the initial incident.

Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison was charged with possession of marijuana several months after his Sept. 4, 2016, arrest. Allison received a one-game suspension from the NFL for violating the substance-abuse policy.

Packers running back Aaron Jones was suspended for the first two games of the 2018 NFL season for violating the same policy. Jones was arrested in October 2017 after he admitted to smoking marijuana during a traffic stop.

Jones pleaded no contest in February to a traffic citation for driving with a controlled substance in his system. Under the plea agreement, tickets for speeding and driving without a license were dismissed.

Kendricks would be subject to punishment under the same policy upon conclusion of his case.