Holloway's Drug Diversion
Alabama's Aden Holloway enters plea for felony drug charges, begins diversion program
Alabama guard Aden Holloway has entered Tuscaloosa County’s “Second Chance Program” as part of a plea agreement covering felony first-degree marijuana possession and a second charge tied to the case, with additional misdemeanor counts included in the broader prosecution. Court records say his guilty plea will be set aside and the matter dismissed if he completes the program, which lasts about six months and requires 50 hours of community service, random drug and alcohol screenings, payment of fines (including $1,300 total in one account, plus an order of $150 per month in another), any required education or classes, and an exit interview, along with submitting an apology letter. Authorities reported finding a little over two pounds of marijuana along with unlabeled promethazine and items consistent with drug packaging/possession in Holloway’s apartment after a March search by a narcotics task force. Holloway was suspended by coach Nate Oats on March 16 and did not travel with Alabama during the NCAA Tournament, as his status with the program remains unresolved. Alabama officials have emphasized that returning to play is not automatic and would require additional legal and athletics steps after the program, with athletics director Greg Byrne calling discussions premature.
Key Points
Court filings show process timing: Holloway’s “Second Chance Program Application” was signed April 30 by Holloway and his attorney, then by assistant district attorney and Judge Allen May on Friday, and entered into the online court system Tuesday.
AL.com reports the plea’s structure and dismissed counts: Holloway entered a guilty plea to a felony first-degree marijuana possession charge and a misdemeanor illegal prescription-drug possession charge, and “two other charges” were dismissed as part of the case record.
Additional details from the search warrant/records include more than marijuana and promethazine: investigators found “rolling trays,” “packaging material,” and “$400 cash in a jacket pocket,” in addition to Promethazine in a drawer.
Eligibility details for the diversion program were reported by 247Sports: Holloway (21) qualified as a first-time offender with “non-violent felonies of a certain class.”
On the athletics side, AL.com reported Coach Nate Oats said in April that for Holloway “a scholarship open still once that all clears,” while not implying automatic reinstatement to the program.
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