Seven felony forgery charges have been filed against former NFL and BYU football star John Golden Richards.
Richards admitted to West Jordan police that he forged 26 of his parents' checks during October, according to documents filed in 3rd Circuit Court. Each of the checks was written for less than $100.West Jordan Police Detective Robert Shober said the checks were written for office visits with Dr. Robert Davis and for painkiller prescriptions at a Shopko pharmacy.
The charges are third-degree felonies punishable by up to five years in prison.
Richards, who now lives in the Millcreek area, was a star football receiver at Granite High School and Brigham Young University. He left BYU after flunking classes and played his senior year at the University of Hawaii.
Richards was the Dallas Cowboys' No. 2 draft choice in 1973. He played in Super Bowl X and caught the clinching touchdown pass for the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII against the Denver Broncos. He later played for the Chicago Bears and Denver.
Richards was arrested and booked into jail Dec. 14 and subsequently released. He is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 31.