LOGAN — Utah State University’s star quarterback and two of his teammates are no longer facing charges of drug possession filed after police said they were smoking marijuana in student housing in December.
At the request of prosecutors, a municipal judge in Logan on Thursday tossed charges against 21-year-old Jordan Love and fellow USU football players Sean Lewis Carter, 23, and Gerold Maurice Bright, 22, court records show.
Each was charged in Logan Justice Court with marijuana possession, a class B misdemeanor.
“We’ve always maintained the position that Jordan did nothing wrong,” said Love’s attorney Skye Lazaro. She said publicity of the case was harsh.
“This is a kid. This has the potential to have a huge impact on his life. When people jump to conclusions without all the facts, I think it creates some problems,” Lazaro said.
Love has said he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL draft. Lazaro said she doesn’t expect the case to impact his plans for a career in the professional league.
On Dec. 14, Logan police said they responded to a report of people smoking marijuana in a room about 11:30 p.m. in the Millennial Towers, 657 E. 1000 North. Officers smelled pot when they entered the building but ultimately found no marijuana in the room.
Prosecutor Jacob Gordon said he believed there was probable cause to support arrests but not enough to meet the standard for a conviction. Gordon’s office also dropped charges against Elani Rice, a member of the university’s track and field team.
“We did not have the evidence to go forward,” Gordon said. The group tested positive for a marijuana metabolite, but it revealed only inactive THC, which indicates prior use, he added.
Gordon said he consistently prosecutes USU students in drug possession cases.