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Patriots' Patrick Chung Pleads Not Guilty on Cocaine Possession
August 26, 2019
New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung pleaded not guilty on cocaine possession charges Monday in New Hampshire.
Chung was charged with felony cocaine possession earlier this month after a June incident at his home. While he was not arrested at the time, an investigation gave police probable cause to charge Chung with a crime.
The Patriots have said they are not commenting on the case while it is an active legal matter. Chung remains a member of the team's active roster.
If convicted, Chung could face more than three years in prison. He is due back in court in November for a hearing, and it's possible the case continues through the 2019 NFL season.
Michael McCann of Sports Illustrated noted that it is "not surprising" that Chung entered a not guilty plea because the cocaine was found in a home owned by him, not on his person. It's possible Chung will contend the cocaine was not his and was someone else's in the home or a guest's.
Chung has spent nine of his 10 NFL seasons with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowls. He has played in 78 of a possible 80 regular-season games over the last five seasons since returning to New England after a one-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 32-year-old posted 84 tackles and one interception in 2018, his fifth straight season with over 80 tackles.
