Former football player for GHS, Gators, and NFL arrested on drug and firearm charges
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Earl James Okine, 35, of Tampa, was arrested last night in Gainesville on drug and firearm charges; he is a former defensive end for the Gators who played in the NFL and several other professional football leagues and now lives in Tampa.
At about 9:35 p.m. on January 29, an Alachua County Sheriff’s (ASO) Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Okine for not coming to a complete stop behind the stop bar and crosswalk at the intersection of W. Newberry Road and Tower Road.
The deputy reported that Okine’s license was suspended for failure to pay traffic fines.
During the traffic stop, an ASO K-9 team alerted to illegal narcotics inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle reportedly produced 1.9 grams of methamphetamine between the center console and passenger seat, 5.8 grams of marijuana on the passenger seat, and a loaded Smith & Wesson SD40 VE with an extended magazine on the driver’s side floorboard.
Post Miranda, Okine reportedly said the drugs were not his and that his friends had probably left them behind in his car.
Okine has been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. He has no criminal convictions. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him released on his own recognizance, but he may not possess or consume alcohol or illegal drugs, and he may not possess weapons or firearms.
Okine played high school football and basketball at Gainesville High School and then played for the Florida Gators between 2008 and 2013. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in May 2013 but was cut before the start of the season; he then signed with and/or played for teams in the Canadian Football League, Arena Football League, and Fall Experimental Football League before signing with the Indianapolis Colts in 2015. He was waived a year later and spent some time on the Kansas City Chiefs practice square until 2017, when he was waived by the Chiefs and signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad but released 18 days later before joining the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. Between 2019 and 2021, Okine played for an Alliance of American Football team and two Canadian Football League teams. According to court documents, he has worked as head of security at The Castle nightclub for the past 4.5 years.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Â
The firearm charge is absurd. I wish Florida would recognize the 2nd Amendment one of these days.
It wouldn’t be a charge if he didn’t have illegal drugs assuming it was in a holster
The clip got him
*magazine
I believe florida does recognize the 2nd Ammendment. They do not honor possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Possession of Meth is a felony last time I check. Also possession of Marijuana indicates probable use. ATF form clearly states usage or addiction is a no purchase for Firearms. Unfortunely he is not playing by the rules and got caught. Plus if he would have followed the traffic laws and not had a suspended license he may not have been stopped. He was probably coming out of a drug neighborhood or from a drug house.
I don’t recall reading all of these exceptions to the 2nd Amendment in the text of the Constitution. Where can I find them? Bearing a firearm is a Constitutional right, not a mere privilege. But the State of Florida treats it like a privilege.
Florida ranks 2nd behind only Texas as having the most guns per population.. That doesn’t sound like Fla. Treats the law as only a privilege. Throw in unregistered guns and may well rank 1 st.
I guarantee you that neither your nor I would receive that light of a sentence for this charge. Rawls, you stink.
Mike Ehrmantraut, head of security.
He would have been good on the gun possession however having the dope on him with the gun is where the ‘possession of firearm during commission of felony’ charge came from .
Looks like he wasted many opportunities. What a shame. He could have done so much with his talent.
How many former GHS football players make it to the NFL, but then end up being arrested for serious crimes?
Not a good role model for Black History Month.