Pubdate: Thu, 13 Dec 2001
Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact:  http://www.star-telegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/162
Author:  Mary McKee

EX-COWBOY ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES AGAIN

DALLAS - Former Cowboys lineman Nate Newton was arrested Wednesday after 
police stopped two vehicles in Ellis County and found 175 pounds of 
marijuana, a Dallas County Sheriff's Department spokesman said.

Newton, 39, of East Ellijay, Ga., and two people with him were jailed late 
Wednesday in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center in Dallas, Don Peritz said.

The arrest is the second recently for Newton, who was taken into custody in 
Louisiana on Nov. 4 after state police reported finding more than 200 
pounds of marijuana in the van he was driving. In that case, he is accused 
of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

He faces the same charge in Wednesday's case, Peritz said. Bail will be set 
after he is arraigned by a federal magistrate.

Newton played 13 seasons for the Cowboys and helped the team win three 
Super Bowls.

Wednesday's arrest occurred after officers with the Drug Enforcement 
Administration flagged down Dallas County Sheriff's deputies and asked them 
to stop a pickup and another vehicle, Peritz said.

The vehicles were in Ellis County before deputies were able to stop them, 
he said. Newton was driving the pickup, Peritz said. He was arrested 
without incident about 3 p.m. in Palmer, Peritz said.

Charles Deaundra Howard, 25, of Garland and Bruce Freeman-Canady, 30, of 
Jacksonville, Fla., were also arrested, Peritz said.

DEA officials confirmed Newton's arrest but declined to give any other details.

"At this stage, all I can tell you is Nate and some others are in custody" 
on drug possession charges, said Mike Dromgoole, special agent in charge of 
the Dallas DEA office. "We're still pursuing the investigation."

In the Louisiana arrest, Newton and two women were stopped for a routine 
traffic violation, and officers found 213 pounds of marijuana. They were 
accused of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. After posting 
bail, Newton was released from the St. Martin Parish Jail in St. 
Martinville, La.

Another suspect, Ricky Glenn Williams, was following the van in a pickup 
registered to Newton. Police found $18,000 in the pickup, and the man was 
charged with conspiracy to possess narcotics, officials said.

Newton retired from football in March 2000 after a season with the Carolina 
Panthers.
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