Bengals' Simpson pleads guilty to felony

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COVINGTON, Ky., March 1 (UPI) -- Jerome Simpson, the Cincinnati Bengals' wide receiver, pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge Thursday and awaits sentencing, authorities said.

He admitted in Kenton Circuit Court that he accepted a two-pound package of California-grown marijuana that was shipped to his home in Crestview Hills, Ky., a suburb of Cincinnati. Prosecutors amended the charge from trafficking marijuana to prohibited acts relating to controlled substances, each of which carries a penalty of one-to-five years in prison, but Kenton Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders recommended Simpson serve 60 days in the Kenton County jail followed by probation.

Simpson has no prior record, cooperated with DEA agents, and had an additional 9/10th of a pound of marijuana and "assorted paraphernalia" in his home, the plea agreement said.

"Jerome Simpson will receive the same punishment as anyone else who committed the same offense, has no criminal record and cooperated with law enforcement. He gets no breaks because of his profession but shouldn't be treated more harshly either," said Sanders.

Sentencing will be arranged at a later date, the court said.