Kamal Ghorui
Aden Holloway, a young Alabama basketball player, is now in big trouble just days before March Madness. Police arrested him on Monday after finding more than two pounds of marijuana inside his apartment. Along with that, officers also checked his phone and said they saw messages that looked like “drug transactions.” Because of this, prosecutors believe the case is not just about personal use.Holloway did not play in Alabama’s first tournament game, where the team beat Hofstra 90-70 on Friday. Right now, he is out of the team and also not allowed on campus. He has already posted a $5,000 bail and is out of jail, but the case is still moving forward.
Aden Holloway arrest details include marijuana seizure, phone messages, and cash found in apartment
Police said they found over two pounds of marijuana in different types of packaging inside Aden Holloway’s apartment. Some were in plastic bags, some were already packed, and some were vacuum sealed. Officers also found $400 in cash inside a jacket that belonged to him.According to the complaint, the money was taken because of messages found on his phone. Prosecutors said, “The money is being seized due to seeing drug transactions on Holloway’s phone, with people texting that they were going to get up with him after the season.”They also said Holloway had smaller cash amounts, which they believe is linked to drug sales. However, Holloway told officers that the marijuana was only for personal use and that he got it from outside the state.Police first started looking into him after complaints were made. They checked his trash and found marijuana and related items in bags that had his name on them. That led them to get a search warrant for his apartment.
Attorney Jason Neff challenges search process as coach Nate Oats reacts to Aden Holloway situation
Holloway’s lawyer, Jason Neff, is now questioning how police handled the case. He said they may challenge the search in court. In a statement to ESPN, Neff said, “In review of the probable cause [search warrant], once this case moves forward, we would challenge the basis of the search with a motion to suppress evidence for the violation of his Fourth Amendment rights.”Neff is also planning to meet with university officials to remove the campus ban. If that happens, Holloway could return to classes and possibly the team later.Meanwhile, Alabama coach Nate Oats spoke about the situation before the Hofstra game. He showed support for his player and said, “I’ve got three daughters, they’ve made mistakes. You don’t disappear on them when they need your help. I won’t be disappearing on him.”Holloway is now facing a Class C felony for drug possession “not for personal use” and another charge for not having a tax stamp. Both charges together can lead to up to 10 years in jail and a $15,000 fine.
