Former NFL player asks for jury trial in drug case
<p align="justify">A former National Football League lineman and his co-defendant pleaded not guilty to gun and drug charges Monday in Tazewell County Circuit Court and requested jury trials.
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<p align="justify">Bill Maas faces two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of unlawful use of a weapon stemming from a traffic stop July 6 in East Peoria.
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<p align="justify">Sarah J. Murphy, who was with Maas during the traffic stop, also faces two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Maas and Murphy are from Lee's Summit, Mo.
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<p align="justify">Both appeared in court Monday and requested jury trials, which are scheduled to take place within the next few months.
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<p align="justify">Authorities found a bag of cocaine, a bag of Ecstasy tablets and a loaded .22-caliber revolver after Maas' Hummer was stopped during a roadside safety check, court records stated.
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<p align="justify">Maas was also questioned in September by authorities for an incident involving a weapon at the Kansas City International Airport. Maas was detained at the airport after federal screeners found a 9mm handgun in his carry-on bag. The weapon was confiscated, and Mass was questioned and released.
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<p align="justify">Maas played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1984 to 1992, and was a Fox Television NFL analyst from 1996 to 2006. The 1984 Rookie of the Year was also a two-time All-Pro selection while with the Chiefs.
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