In Centre County court this week, a former Notre Dame football player reportedly pleaded guilty to charges that he received more than 20 pounds of marijuana in the mail. During his arraignment, the Pennsylvania native also waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

According to police reports, the drug charges stem from an incident late last month in which State College police intercepted a package containing 22 pounds of pot that was sent to a business at which the football player worked. U.S. Postal Service officials reportedly intercepted the two postal express parcels on suspicion that they contained marijuana. After obtaining federal search warrants, postal service inspectors searched the parcels and found each to contain 11 pounds of the drug.

Police then set up a controlled delivery of the packages to a State College business. Reports indicate that an undercover postal inspector was met by the football player, who signed for receipt of both parcels. He was soon arrested.

Following his arrest, the football player allegedly provided details to police that seemed to implicate himself and his involvement in the drug delivery scheme. He reportedly said that he had about 25 additional pounds of marijuana at his home, as well as a gun and money in his car. He also allegedly gave police additional details about the package and told them how the marijuana was to be distributed.

However, the football player has pleaded not guilty. It is unknown whether he plans to challenge those alleged confessions he made to police. We will continue to update our criminal defense blog as this story develops.

Source: Centre Daily Times, "Man enters not guilty plea in case of allegedly receiving 22 pounds of marijuana, waives preliminary hearing," May 2, 2012

Source: Altoona Mirror, "Police: Football player received pot," April 28, 2012