Latest news with #HunterJr.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Judge denies Travis Hunter Sr. "special treatment" request, allows son's wedding
A Florida judge has denied a motion by Travis Hunter Sr., father of NFL rookie and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter Jr., to ease restrictions on his community control supervision, according to a report by Yahoo Sports' Jason Owens. Hunter Sr's sentence stems from gun and drug possession charges. The judge ruled that the request appeared to seek 'special treatment' due to Hunter Jr.'s high-profile football career. Advertisement Through a plea agreement, Hunter Sr. received a sentence of 90 days in jail and three years of probation, with one year under community control supervision, which is essentially house arrest unless exceptions are granted by the court. His attorney, Bradford Cohen, argued that circumstances had changed, as Hunter Jr. could now employ his father and provide stable housing. Cohen tried to explain that this wasn't a plea for special treatment, but a legitimate reconsideration based on new personal and financial stability. However, Judge Howard Coates saw the situation differently. 'It's given me some concern that you're almost arguing for special treatment,' he told Cohen, rejecting the request. The Judge stated that the public might view granting any request as favoritism due to Hunter Jr.'s fame. 'Probably 99 percent of the public out there that doesn't have an athlete's son who's incredibly successful, might look at this and say, 'This sounds like special treatment for the athlete's father,'' he said. Advertisement Hunter Sr. was released from jail in December 2023 and missed his son's Heisman Trophy ceremony but was later granted permission to attend the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. Related: Where Colorado Buffaloes QB room lands in ESPN's rankings The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Hunter Jr. with the No. 2 overall pick last month. He become the highest drafted cornerback and second-highest drafted wide receiver in NFL history. Related: Five-star recruit sends clear message to Deion Sanders after Colorado visit Despite denying the alteration of his sentence reduction, the judge did grant a travel exception for Hunter Sr. to attend his son's upcoming wedding in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Saturday
The Herald Scotland
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Florida judge denies request by father of Jags' Travis Hunter
Hunter Sr., 39, is about halfway through the community control portion of his sentence stemming from gun and drug charges, according to his court filing. He received permission from the court to travel to Green Bay, Wisconsin, in April to attend the NFL draft with his son. "In this case, he's not only been successful in community control - he's completed everything that he had in community control," Hunter Sr.'s attorney, Bradford Cohen, told the judge. "And what's so important to me is that his situation has changed." "You say that, but what's going on with his son has not changed the landscape," Judge Howard Coates said in a public hearing in Palm Beach County that also was viewable online. In a separate ruling Tuesday, Judge Coates did grant permission for Hunter Sr. to travel to Tennessee this coming weekend to attend Hunter Jr.'s wedding there Saturday. Hunter Jr., the two-way star from Colorado, is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars after winning the Heisman Trophy in December. The judge just didn't want to modify Hunter Sr.'s sentence beyond these occasional special trips. Judge questions 'special treatment' The judge noted that Hunter Sr.'s sentence came from a plea deal last year that was agreed to by the state and Hunter Sr. It included 90 days in jail and three years of probation, including one year in community control supervision. Community control in Florida is defined as an intensive supervision program in which defendants are confined to their homes unless they are working or attending approved activities, according to the judge questioned why it should be changed simply because of his son's success. "I hear these circumstances have changed, you know, my hat's off to his son," the judge said. "I don't know that changes the father's situation for me. In fact, it's given me some concern that you're almost arguing for special treatment." "I'm not, judge, and I'll tell you why," Cohen said. "If someone was to win the lottery and someone was to get a new job, if someone was to move to a different neighborhood, all those situational changes aren't asking for favoritism whatsoever. What I'm saying is his situation has changed in that his son is able to employ him. His son is able to give him stable housing and a stable environment. Those things are not asking for special treatment, judge. Those are simply issues that arose that changed the situational of an individual." The judge didn't buy it. The state prosecutor also objected to the request while Hunter Sr. looked on in court. "That's not special treatment; I'm not looking at that," Cohen said. "So say you, but probably 99 percent of the public out there that doesn't have an athlete son who's incredibly successful, might look at this and say, 'This sounds like special treatment for the athlete's father,'" the judge replied. The Lil Wayne connections to this case Hunter Sr. is understandably trying to improve his situation through his son's connections and budding pro football career. He is represented by attorney Bradford Cohen, a former contestant on "The Apprentice" who helped secure a gun-charge pardon from President Donald Trump for rapper Lil Wayne in 2021. Lil Wayne is a friend of Hunter Jr. and Deion Sanders, Hunter Jr.'s coach at Colorado. Lil Wayne also attended Hunter Jr.'s Heisman Trophy ceremony in December when Hunter Jr. talked about his dad not being there, telling his father he loved him and that "I did it for you, man." In another connection, Hunter Jr.'s agent is Adie Van Gontard, who co-founded with Lil Wayne the sports agency that enlists Hunter Jr. as a client. What happened with Travis Hunter Sr.? It stems from an incident in Lantana, Florida, in November 2023, when Hunter Sr. was pulled over by police after the officer said he didn't have "any lights for the tag" on his car, according to the police report. Police identified him as a habitual traffic offender with no driver's license and subjected him to a search that allegedly found drugs and a backpack with a pistol and loaded magazine, according to court records. Cohen said there were "issues" with the underlying case against Hunter Sr., implying the plea deal he agreed to was made by prosecutors to move the case along. Hunter Sr., a former high school sports star in Palm Beach County, ended up being charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon after a prior conviction in 2018 for "sale or possession of heroin with intent to sell." Hunter Sr. reached a plea deal last year to plead guilty to drug possession and the gun charge, leading to a sentence of 90 days in jail. He got released on Dec. 5, just nine days before the Heisman ceremony in New York. He also was sentenced to three years of probation, including one year of community control supervision, which was the subject of the hearing Tuesday. Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@
New York Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Travis Hunter's father receives permission to attend 2025 NFL Draft
Travis Hunter's father, Travis Sr., has been given permission to attend the 2025 NFL Draft, according to court documents. Hunter's father is serving probation related to gun and drug charges stemming from his arrest during a traffic stop in November 2023. He was not able to attend the Heisman Trophy presentation in December, where his son, a former Colorado two-way star, won the award. Advertisement He will, however, be able to attend the draft, which will be held in Green Bay, Wis., from April 24-26, where Hunter Jr. is projected to be selected early. Hunter Jr. heads into the draft as The Athletic's top-ranked prospect following a stellar career that began at Jackson State, where he was recruited by head coach Deion Sanders. He followed Sanders to Colorado and helped the program win nine games in 2024 while winning several national awards for his play on both offense and defense. He won the Walter Camp Award, the Paul Hornung Award, the Bednarik Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Biletnikoff Award in addition to the Heisman Trophy. Colorado has already retired Hunter's number 12 after he posted 153 receptions for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns offensively as well as 67 tackles, seven interceptions, 16 pass breakups and a forced fumble in his two seasons in Boulder. Hunter Jr. acknowledged his father during his acceptance speech. 'Dad, I love you,' Hunter Jr. said. 'All the stuff you went through … I did it for you, man. All the times that you didn't get to see me, or the time you came to see my games. From seeing probably two games in high school to seeing me on TV every weekend and coming to see me, that means so much to me. I know you wanted to be here and you can't. But trust me, I got you.' Hunter's father will be able to attend Thursday night of the draft before returning to his home in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to court records.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Travis Hunter's father gets court permission to attend 2025 NFL Draft
Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter Jr.'s father, Travis Hunter Sr., did not see his son win the Heisman Trophy at the December ceremony. But he plans to be in Green Bay for the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter Sr. is serving a three-year probation period with one year of mandated home confinement after pleading guilty to three counts, including a felony, related to a 2023 arrest. He has received court permission to attend the draft, though he will be restricted to his hotel grounds and the draft event location at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The Colorado star's father received a 90-day sentence in late September related to the same arrest but was released on Dec. 5, three weeks early and nine days before the Heisman Trophy ceremony. He ultimately could not make the trip to New York to see his son win college football's most prestigious award. NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD: Travis Hunter leads top 200 players for 2025 Hunter Jr. thanked his father in his Heisman acceptance speech in December. "He's not here and wasn't able to make it but I know you're watching on TV," he said at the time. "Dad, I love you. For all the stuff you went through man… Now look at your oldest son. I did it for you, man. "All the times that you didn't get to see me, or the times you did come to see my games. From not seeing probably two games in high school to seeing me on TV every weekend and coming to see me. That means so much to me. "I know you wanted to be here and you can't, but trust me, I got you. I'm bringing the trophy home. I love you." The two-way star out of Colorado is expected to be drafted with one of the first three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. When Hunter Jr. hears his name called this time, his father will be there to hear it and celebrate with him. Tom D'Angelo and Eric J. Wallace of The Palm Beach Post contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NFL Draft: Travis Hunter's father gets court permission to attend
Miami Herald
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Court OKs probation exception, allows Travis Hunter Sr. to attend draft
Travis Hunter Sr. received clearance to attend the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, where his Heisman Trophy-winning son is expected to be selected among the top picks Thursday night. Hunter Sr. was granted an exception to the travel restriction under terms of a three-year probation agreement stemming from a 2023 arrest for undisclosed charges that carried a 90-day jail sentence. Thought Hunter Sr. was released early -- days before his son was presented the Heisman -- he was not in attendance for the ceremony. USA Today reported that Hunter Sr. will be restricted to his hotel and the draft grounds in and around Lambeau Field. A wide receiver and cornerback, Travis Hunter Jr. won the Heisman Trophy in a historic dual role at Colorado. He's projected to be selected with the No. 2 pick by the Cleveland Browns or third overall by the New York Giants. Hunter Jr. did not leave his father out of the festivities in New York, talking to him directly during an emotional acceptance speech. "All the times that you didn't get to see me, or the times you did come to see my games," Hunter Jr. said in December. "From not seeing probably two games in high school to seeing me on TV every weekend and coming to see me. That means so much to me. I know you wanted to be here and you can't, but trust me, I got you. I'm bringing the trophy home. I love you." --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
