Sam Hurd changes attorneys, still pleading not guilty

They say government isn't portraying real Sam Hurd Brad Biggs


Print This January 23, 2012, 11:40 AM EST

2 Comments


Sam Hurd has made a change in attorneys as the former Chicago Bears wide receiver prepares to face federal drug-trafficking charges.


According to the San Antonio Express-News, Hurd is now represented by Texans Michael McCrum and Jay Ethington, choosing them to replace David Kenner and Brett Greenfield of California.
His new lawyers are former assistant U.S. attorneys, and they have filed a motionto waive Hurd’s arraignment. Hurd, who is from San Antonio, was indicted on Jan. 4 on charges after he was busted in December outside a Chicago steakhouse following a sting operation. Officials alleged Hurd said he wanted to begin buying up to 10 kilograms of cocaine per week and 1,000 pounds of marijuana.


Hurd is free on $100,000 bond. The new attorneys have said their client will plead not guilty.
“Anybody that really knows him, knows this is not Sam Hurd the way the government's portraying him,” McCrum said. “There's much more to the story. Sam has given the community his heart and soul. He's helped kids and volunteered his time.


“Now Sam and his family ask the community to be there for them, and to not pass judgment so quickly.”


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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune

Innocent until proven guilty but so far the preponderance of evidence seems to favor the prosecution, not the defense. I'll be happy to wait it out but I don't know how you can portray a guy offering to buy tens of thousands of dollars of drugs each week wrong. If he's so very, very innocent why didn't the Bears stand behind him and offer support. Just more lawyer-speak.

I just have to wonder how much help to kids, especially your own, you can be from behind bars for ten or fifteen years for a conviction for drug distribution. Just how many of those same kids might he harmed by those drugs? Once it goes to the street he has no idea of where it might be sold and to whom or didn't he think about that?