The district attorney in Monroe, La., decided Monday not to pursue prosecution of Alabama junior offensive tackle Cam Robinson and Crimson Tide junior defensive back Laurence "Hootie" Jones.
According to documents obtained by Monroe television station KNOE, the prosecution was "declined due to insufficient evidence." District attorney Jerry Jones later told KNOE more about why he made the decision.
"The main reason I'm doing this is that I refuse to ruin the lives of two young men who have spent their adolescence and teenage years working and sweating, while we were all in the air conditioning," Jones said.
Robinson, the No. 7 prospect in the 2017 NFL draft according to longtime ESPN analyst Mel Kiper, was arrested along with Jones in the early hours of May 17 in a parking lot at Forsythe Park in Monroe. Robinson was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance and illegal possession of a stolen firearm, which is a felony.
Jones, who has four career tackles in 16 games, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Charges against Robinson and Jones were not dropped, however. The clerk's office said the case could proceed if new evidence is presented in the future.
Alabama coach Nick Saban did not have an immediate response to Monday's decision.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.