FOOTBALL STAR DRAWS ONE-YEAR PROBATION

Dayna Overton Likely To Return To Freedom With Drug Case Resolved.

One of the Fort Wayne Freedom's football offensive stars was sentenced to a
year of probation Monday after he pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana.

In return for his plea, the state dropped a more serious charge of
possession of cocaine against receiver Dayna Overton, 29.

Initially, the charge carried a penalty of one year in jail, but the judge
suspended that to serving time on probation.

Overton could not be reached for comment this morning.

Overton was arrested June 29 when police were called to a home on Oliver
Street where he had been living at the time. Officers found he had an
outstanding warrant and placed him under arrest, and Overton told police he
had a small bag of marijuana in his pocket. Police arrested Overton, and he
told them he dropped his money in the police car.

Officers found a white chalky substance on a dollar bill, and a field test
indicated it was cocaine. Overton insisted police planted the drug on the
money, and said it did not belong to him. That allegation was unfounded.

The Freedom, a member of United Indoor Football, suspended Overton from
play when he was arrested, and told him he had to clear up the legal
matters before he could play again.

Now that he has been sentenced to probation, a Freedom spokesman said
Monday the team expects Overton to return to the roster.