Spence’s Legal Woes Will Linger Into Summer
April 14th, 2014
Akeem Spence
Bucs defensive tackle Akeem Spence did not commit the allegedly brutally heinous acts of having a mattress on his front lawn, a stripper pole in his living room, a sibling’s knife in his thigh, or hosting a loud house party. But Spence was pinched by Alabama police in January for allegedly barreling down the highway at 100+ miles per hour with a chunk of weed.
Today, Spence was scheduled for a “bench trial” in rural Alabama.
Spence was on the docket in Escambia County court today on the misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. He entered a plea of not guilty about six weeks ago. The maximum penalty for the offense is one year in jail.
Judge David Jordan granted a continuance to Spence and the trial date was moved to July 7. The alleged speeding infraction has a new court date of July 7, as well. Spence is required to pay his ticket or appear in court.
Joe talked to some local Alabama sources about the matter and they were surprised Spence didn’t move to have the matters resolved quickly. It’s likely he would have landed in a pre-trial intervention program, which would keep his record clean if he met the terms of the agreement.
April 14th, 2014 at 4:45 pm
I see the imbecile that operates this thread still makes light of The @$$wipe mike Williams and his transgressions. Obviously JBF has never grown up.
April 14th, 2014 at 4:47 pm
It’s hard to take pot arrests serious now that’s it’s legal at various levels in almost half the states.
Here in Texas it’s 80mph limit on several of the highways so he was only 20 over limit. No diferent than 75 in a 55…
Spence just like MW 19 are hardly candidates for America’s most wanted
April 14th, 2014 at 4:51 pm
I reserve judgement since I do not know what Spence’s history or past rap sheet was, or if this is a first time offense, but I’m sure he will be fighting for a job this camp and if he fails to impress he will be a distant memory come opening game.
April 14th, 2014 at 4:55 pm
Does not sound to me like Spence has a decent defence counsel. Someone needs to tell him if he wants to keep employment as a Buc, Lovie will likely give him a second chance but no more. He needs to mature and stay out of the papers from now on. We will need his strength to stop the run against great ruunning teams.
April 14th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Help Joe out. Did Williams put any innocent lives in danger? Did Spence?
Actually, Joe will help you out. The answers are no and yes, in order.
Now who is the juvenile?
April 14th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
So far, I’d rather have Spence living in my neighborhood.
April 14th, 2014 at 5:08 pm
Maybe Joe does need to grow up. Always yakking about some gal he will never have, drinking crappy lite beer and now brags about ruining Crown Royal by mixing with coke zero? Don’t throw stones Joe. Stick to what you know….By the way Joe, what is it that you know?
April 14th, 2014 at 5:10 pm
Kirk:
If Joe is so horrible, there are plenty of other Bucs sites that rarely update in the offseason that you are welcome to surf.
April 14th, 2014 at 5:18 pm
Williams put his own life in danger didn’t he? I mean you don’t get shanked for nothing after all.
April 14th, 2014 at 5:27 pm
Most of your articles Joe, are quite good, better than average. Joe, you just go too far with your opinions at times. Stick to what you do best, write about the Buccaneers as a team and lay off the personal shots at some of the players. They aren’t perfect, we aren’t either. I would rather a man, if driving 100mph, be stoned rather than spending the evening drinking crappy lite beer or mixing Crown Royal and coke zero, then getting behind the wheel. Ever done that Joe? Your site Joe is much better than most.
April 14th, 2014 at 5:28 pm
it’s freakin unreal the hypocricy among the sports “media” in this town regarding how Williams was portrayed. Ryan Malone was arrested for DUI, and a very high level, AND felony possession of COCAINE, yet all I’ve seen, besides initial arreset reports, was today, when he said he was “embarrassed” and the coach goin on and on how this will not affect the playoffs. Where’s the OUTRAGE? I lost respect for the local media long ago, and have now lost respect for Pewter Inquisition and their religious crusade against Williams. IMO, these religious crusaders are much more dangerous, in the big picture, than Mike Williams and his burnt beans.
April 14th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
you really need to grow up joe. both men are guilty of at least being ignorant and irresponsible. only a child or someonr with childish tendencies would attempt to point out someone elses guilt while discussing anothers. let’s let the judicial system and those parties actually affected sort this out. right now your opinion means bull spit.
April 14th, 2014 at 6:07 pm
Kirk confuses me. Did anyone dive 100mph after drinking Crown and Coke? Kind of a stretch there. I also don’t believe Spence was accused of being high. I don’t know of any occasions that someone gets stoned and then speeds, much less triple digits.
April 14th, 2014 at 6:32 pm
That makes sense, the treatment Spence would receive for cannabis possession in a assbackward state like Alabama or any state in the south. Speeding yes, that deserves a hefty fine. Come into the 21st century fellows, cannabis is beneficial to all of mankind. I’ve been partaking for near 45 years. It is a frigging joke, the stupidity of the police state and falling in line.
April 14th, 2014 at 6:50 pm
Joe,
I think you two do a terrific job with this site. I may not always agree with you but I’ll never disrespect you. I know sometimes I run my suck about other things and I apologize for that. Whatever the case, I really appreciate all the hard work you guys put into it and your continuous stream of news even when there is so little to report. Keep up the good work and you know I’ll always be a JBF fan for life. So I’m fixin to drink this cold beer in your honor.
здоровье!!!
April 14th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
If Spence was driving 100mph and only had a nugget of weed, why didn’t he crush it in his hand and let the dust out the window. He obvious isn’t too smart and I don’t care what Lovie does with him or anyone else for that matter. I trust our new coach and believe he really knows his $#!t.
April 14th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Weed and fast driving.
No biggie to me.
April 14th, 2014 at 7:31 pm
Why is Spence so happy in that photo? Schiano is gone and he can go back for seconds.
April 14th, 2014 at 7:55 pm
Spence needs to hire Doleman Law! His current attorney must suck.
April 14th, 2014 at 7:55 pm
@SuperGobaby Says:
“…I see the imbecile that operates this thread still makes light of The @$$wipe mike Williams and his transgressions…”
Seriously?? What is serious about a mattress in the front yard? Or a stripper pole? Or ANY of the other transgressions?
Are you still mad bc you never got invited to the wild parties when you were young? Or is it bc the only ppl you could hang out with had really thick glasses and picked their nose for amusement? Grow up dude.
April 14th, 2014 at 7:58 pm
@Oil Derrick Brooks Says:
“…So far, I’d rather have Spence living in my neighborhood.”
I really can’t argue the point, as far as living in my neighborhood too. But I’d rather have MW driving on roads where my kids might be driving. Not Spence.
However, neither needs to be crucified. Young and dumb.
April 14th, 2014 at 7:59 pm
You could argue a little quality cannabis prevents road rage thus making the roads safer. Obviously this theory only applies to metropolitan areas and not rural Alabama.
April 14th, 2014 at 8:35 pm
Yes yes only the good stuff. No dirt weed, definitely no dirt weed.
April 14th, 2014 at 8:52 pm
Why is Joe so often criticized for having a sense of humor?
April 14th, 2014 at 9:12 pm
So, James Wilder Jr. arrested in Tampa. Driving on a suspended liscence. He’s had 4 violations, has been charged before with battery of an officer.
April 14th, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Mixing crown with anything should be a crime.
April 14th, 2014 at 9:24 pm
tmaxcon Says
“Here in Texas it’s 80mph limit on several of the highways so he was only 20 over limit. No diferent than 75 in a 55…”
Wow. Just wow.
First, it is a lot different. 75 in a 55 is 20 over the limit.
100 is 30 over the limit in Tampa. Not to mention the amount of damage you can do at 100.
But the simple truth is that both are illegal. If you think either is no big deal, consider if someone does 50-60 in a 30 zone. People get killed when drivers break the law.
If you can’t do the limit, leave earlier.
April 14th, 2014 at 9:25 pm
Backward ass states like florida and alabama will never legalize weed.
April 14th, 2014 at 9:29 pm
tmaxcon Says
“You could argue a little quality cannabis prevents road rage thus making the roads safer.”
And it led to him doing 30 over the speed limit. Sure, roads safer.
April 14th, 2014 at 9:36 pm
So far as Spence goes, he will be suspended for 4 games at the start of the season. That is most likely why he lost the starting role.
I don’t think he should be cut for a first offense. Watched closely though.
April 14th, 2014 at 9:59 pm
Harry,
you might want to look into the “Alleged” 16 traffic violations in the last couple years by MW before you send the neighborhood cruise invite… LOL
Ghost
My guess which is just as useless as predicting the bucs season this early is that the entire USA will be weed friendly within 7 years. It’s fascinating to me to watch how the different states are moving forward with it.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:07 pm
If the attorney is rejecting pretrial intervention could be something wrong with the search of the car.
Generally everybody takes it cause the charges get dismissed.
I’m getting the whiff of a dismissal or not guilty.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:47 pm
If I were “Lovie and Licht”, mock draft (no trades):
Your score is: 6013 (GRADE: A)
Your Picks:
Round 1 Pick 7: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo (A)
Round 2 Pick 6: Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA (A)
Round 3 Pick 5: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington (A)
Round 5 Pick 3: Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin (A)
Round 6 Pick 9: Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers (A)
Round 7 Pick 6: Bennett Jackson, CB, Notre Dame (A)
April 14th, 2014 at 10:51 pm
Bonzi
He will only be suspended if he is already in the substance abuse program.
Steve
Nice picks seriously. The problem is it does not address the dire need for a starting qb.
April 15th, 2014 at 1:29 am
Spence can’t be in too much trouble at the Bucs. I heard D-Line coach, Joe Cullen give him a shout out today with Scott Smith. Said he is anxious to coach him and others. Also said there is a lot of talent in the D-Line.
April 15th, 2014 at 2:57 am
Why does JBF continually use the worst pics of some of the players over and over again (this one and some of those stupid pics of G. McCoy for example) particularly when the news article or post is about a serious topic. Whether you believe it or not, you’re planting the image in readers’ minds that the player is taking the matter lightly.
April 15th, 2014 at 11:01 am
@Alonza
How can we take you seriously with that goofy clown gravatar?
April 16th, 2014 at 11:36 am
BigMacAttack Said:
“If Spence was driving 100mph and only had a nugget of weed, why didn’t he crush it in his hand and let the dust out the window.”
If the cop sees ANYTHING going out the window then it is destroying evidence. That will get you whacked harder than a little weed.