PROSECUTOR: PLEA BARGAIN A POSSIBILITY

Football: Rancho Cucamonga High Grad Jermaine Brooks Pleads Not Guilty At
Arraignment In Arkansas.

Jermaine Brooks, a former standout football player at Rancho Cucamonga High
and the University of Arkansas, pleaded not guilty Monday to seven felony
charges during his arraignment in Fayetteville, Ark.

His trial was set for Jan. 29.

Brooks was arrested Oct. 22 after police raided his apartment and found 7.5
pounds of marijuana, six guns, a bayonet and $16,841 in cash. Earlier that
day, police had traced an additional three pounds of marijuana to Brooks,
bringing the total to 10.5 pounds.

He was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to
deliver, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of drug
paraphernalia, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Two of
the guns were later found to be stolen, the Associated Press reported, and
Brooks was subsequently charged with possession of stolen weapons.

Washington County deputy prosecutor John Threet said the arraignment went
just as expected, and he wouldn't be surprised if a plea bargain is reached
before the trial.

"When cases seem to be fairly solid -- he even apologized on a television
interview -- generally the defense doesn't want to run in there and try
it," Threet said.

Threet considers the case against Brooks strong.

"But I've thought that before and I've been proven wrong," Threet said.

Before the arrest, Brooks, a tackle, was the Razorbacks' defensive captain.
He started the first six games of the season, making 14 tackles. Arkansas
Coach Houston Nutt dismissed Brooks from the team the day of the arrest.