Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is preparing to fight misdemeanor charges in his home state of South Carolina.
His attorney says the former No. 1 overall draft pick is standing firm in his assertion that he did nothing wrong, according to The Rock Hill Herald.
The case stems from a September 12 incident in Rock Hill, where Clowney was arrested for trespassing and failure to identify himself to police.
According to a Rock Hill Police Department report, officers were working security near District Three Stadium, keeping non-residents from parking at a nearby apartment complex during a high school football game.
Authorities said Clowney parked in the lot and refused multiple requests to show identification.
Clowney, however, told officers that his aunt lived in the complex, giving him a reason to be there, the report noted. When he did not produce ID, police placed him under arrest. He was booked on the two misdemeanor counts and released later that day after posting $930 bail.
Rock Hill Municipal Court Judge Jane Modla continued the case after a brief hearing. Clowney was not required to appear in person and was not in court. His lawyer, Todd Rutherford—a South Carolina state representative—confirmed that he has requested discovery from the police but has not yet received any evidence.
“He maintains his innocence,” Rutherford said in a statement to The Herald, which was the only outlet in attendance at the hearing. Rutherford added that no trial date has been scheduled.
Rock Hill city prosecutor Harry Hancock did not oppose the continuance, meaning the case will now move onto the jury trial list. That means Clowney could ultimately face a full trial if no resolution is reached beforehand.
Clowney, 32, has long been a star in Rock Hill, first making his name at South Pointe High School before dominating at the University of South Carolina. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and has since played for multiple teams, including the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, and, most recently, the Carolina Panthers. He signed with the Cowboys this September, just three days after the arrest.
Despite the legal trouble, Dallas has not indicated any change to Clowney’s role.