Denville gun charge to be dropped against ex-Jet Goodson
A weapons charge is slated to be dismissed against ex-New York Jets running back Mike Goodson after his friend Wednesday took full responsibility for ownership of a loaded handgun found in a vehicle they occupied in Denville in 2013.
Both Goodson, 27, of Spring, Texas, and co-defendant Garant Evans, 33, of Roselle, were facing a trial on a second-degree charge of unlawful possession of a weapon -- a .45-caliber Taurus -- on May 17, 2013 on Route 80 in Denville.
Evans, who has a prior drug-related conviction, took full responsibility for the handgun in pleading guilty before state Superior Court Judge James DeMarzo in Morristown. Evans told the judge he was in a vehicle with Goodson that was stopped on Route 80 in Denville. An investigating state trooper found the gun in a locked glove compartment and Evans acknowledged at that time the gun was his, though he later tried unsuccessfully to get the statements suppressed.
In court Wednesday, Evans told the judge that Goodson was not aware of the presence of the weapon he placed in the glove compartment while they were out together for the night. Goodson also was in court Wednesday and after Evans' plea, Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Peter Foy said the state will dismiss the criminal charge against Goodson as of Aug. 10 if the sentencing of Evans on Aug. 7 goes smoothly.
The state also expects in August to remand a minor drug paraphernalia charge against Goodson to Denville Municipal Court for resolution.
Foy has recommended that Evans be sentenced to five years in prison, with three years to be served before parole consideration. Evans' wife is a cousin of Goodson, and Evans is the father of three children, ages 7, 2 and five months.
Goodson was elated as he left the courtroom and said that with the expectation of the criminal charge being dismissed he will contact his agent about connecting him again with the NFL.
"It's like the world is off my shoulders. It took my whole life to build my reputation and one thing brought it down. I'm going to call my agent and have him look for teams. I've been working out and feel great," Goodson said.
Evans said after his plea that he pleaded guilty because "this is my time for growth."
"Life is a lesson and you're doomed to repeat your mistakes in life if you don't change. I've been in all sorts of dramas and this is my time for growth. I had to own up to what I did," he said.
Goodson was released in June 2014 from the Jets after he failed to appear at a mandatory football mini-camp. He was charged with the handgun possession in 2013, two months after he signed a three-year $6.9 million deal. He was suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and then in September 2013 he tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to police reports and Evans' statement in court, Evans was the driver of a rented Chevrolet Yukon and Goodson the passenger on May 17, 2013, when the vehicle stopped in the left center lane of Route 80 around 3 a.m. A tow truck driver called police to say that both men appeared intoxicated and the vehicle wasn't moving from the middle of the interstate.
A trooper stated in an arrest affidavit that he smelled alcohol and burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle and Goodson was "incoherent, slobbering."
Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.