OWINGS MILLS — Baltimore Ravens wide receiver and kick returner David Reed has resolved a misdemeanor possession of marijuana case without admitting guilt and the case is now closed, according to Maryland district court records.
Reed addressed the case Friday rather than go to trial next week.
Represented by Towson criminal defense attorney Richard Karceski, Reed entered a plea other than guilty or not guilty and received a "stet" on the docket in Baltimore County District Court in Towson.
The legal term means that Reed was granted a conditional stay on all further proceedings on the charge as it was moved to the inactive list at the courthouse. It’s not the same as a guilty plea or conviction and he was’t fined, given jail time or assessed court costs.
According to a court clerk, this legal ruling operates in a similar manner to being placed on unsupervised probation. As long as Reed remains out of trouble for the next three years, the case will remain closed.
If Reed is charged with a crime going forward, then the judge could reopen the case.
If Reed stays out of trouble, he can apply to have his record expunged. He can also ask the judge to change the disposition of the case to not guilty or ask for a dismissal before the three years is up.
Because of how the case was adjudicated and with Reed having a clean record previously, it’s considered unlikely that the NFL will punish him under the league’s personal conduct policy.
Reed was issued a summons for misdemeanor possession of marijuana last month.
Reed was initially assigned a Feb. 23 court date.
The case originates from a December police investigation at Reed’s residence in Owings Mills after a neighbor complained to police and officers obtained a search warrant.
No charges were immediately filed at the time of the investigation.
However, police did take evidence from his residence that was submitted for testing at their crime lab, according to Baltimore County police spokesman Robert McCullough.
At the time of the incident, Reed had little to say about the situation.
"I’m good," Reed told Ravens24x7.com. "I ain’t got nothing to say right now."
Reed wasn’t disciplined by the team.
Days after the initial investigation, Reed set a franchise record with a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a win over the Houston Texans.
The fifth-round draft pick from Utah led the NFL with a 29.3 kickoff return average, missing the final few games due to a concussion and a torn wrist ligament.
