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So, you may remember when we told you about Nebraska Cornhuskers Freshman Wide Receiver Jariah Tolbert and his arrest for having marijuana and fleeing the scene, getting him a obstructing a peace officer charge right?
He went to court about all those...
#Huskers Football recruit Jariah Tolbert pleads guilty to possession of marijuana less than 1 ounce, fined $300, for June 12 incident. #LNK
— Lori Pilger (@LJSpilger) July 15, 2014
Now, first and foremost, this isn't considered a felony nor a misdemeanor. Pilger reports that this is considered a "infraction". So, yea, don't do it again.
But then it gets odd....
Jariah Tolbert pleads not guilty to obstructing an officer charge in same incident. Could get up to a year in jail if convicted. #Huskers
— Lori Pilger (@LJSpilger) July 15, 2014
Interesting thing here, in that he had to be "chased down" by a UNL Policeman in this.
But HEY IT GETS BETTER...
Tolbert told the judge he was going to represent himself on the obstructing charge. Set to return later this month. #Huskers
— Lori Pilger (@LJSpilger) July 15, 2014
So, interestingly enough, not only is Tolbert going to fight the running charge, but he plans on representing himself in the court proceedings.
I asked the Journal-Star's Lori Pilger about the next phase for Tolbert...
@btbowling He's just set for a docket call at this point, not trial.
— Lori Pilger (@LJSpilger) July 15, 2014
That docket call is scheduled for July 28th at 9am in Lancaster County court.
About that whole representing yourself thing though, I asked Pilger about that also...
@btbowling That's what he said. But UNL's Student Legal Services represents students on misdemeanors for free. He'd be wise to talk to them.
— Lori Pilger (@LJSpilger) July 15, 2014
A quick Google search does indeed confirm that UNL's Student Legal Services will give representation and advice to registered students, which Tolbert currently is. They could also represent him in a misdemeanor trial, which this would be.
It's interesting that, even though I'm not a lawyer and don't currently study law, I would think a 18 year old would want to represent himself in a situation like this and hope for an acquittal. Possibly one of our commenters could enlighten us in this.
Tolbert's situation with the team is unknown, and Bo Pelini isn't not scheduled to talk to the media before Big Ten Media Days in 2 weeks in Chicago.