Suspension for Kenny Britt?
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JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A New Jersey prosecutor will review charges against Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt stemming from a traffic stop.
Britt is charged with eluding an officer, hindering apprehension and obstructing governmental function. He was arrested last week in his hometown of Bayonne after police said he drove his Porsche at 71 mph in a 55-mph zone and then led police on a chase.
Britt appeared briefly in municipal court in Jersey City on Tuesday wearing a dark pinstripe suit over a pink shirt, but he entered no plea. He politely declined to comment outside the courthouse after the hearing. His attorney, John Hughes, also didn’t comment afterward.
The judge referred the case to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, which will review it and decide how to proceed. Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said it could take a few months before the decision is made on whether to present the case to a grand jury for possible indictment.
The three offenses that Britt faces carry a maximum prison term of five years apiece upon conviction, but DeFazio said they also carry a presumption of no jail time if the offender has no criminal record, as in Britt’s case. Britt also would be eligible for a pretrial diversionary program that wouldn’t involve jail, DeFazio said.
The former Rutgers star has had several other run-ins with authorities. He was arrested last year for three outstanding traffic tickets and is accused of not paying a bail bond he helped secure for a friend.
Nashville police stopped Britt in August during training camp, ticketing him for driving without a license because he obtained a photo ID after misplacing his license.
Britt also was accused of being involved in a bar fight Oct. 22 in Nashville, but authorities later decided not to charge him.
Former Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher benched the receiver after repeated mistakes during a preseason game.
Britt left Rutgers after his junior season and was the Titans’ first-round draft pick in 2009. He tied for second on the Titans with 42 catches in 2010 and led all Tennessee receivers with nine touchdowns and a per-catch average of 18.5 yards.
Jerel Lord, who police have said was with Britt when they were stopped, also appeared in court and declined to speak after the hearing. He faces a narcotics possession charge in addition to resisting arrest and obstruction.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press