Judge Dismisses Drug Charge Against Former Penn State Football Player

A Lancaster County judge dismissed a felony drug charge against a former Penn State football player.

Lancaster County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey D. Wright dismissed the charge Wednesday saying authorities violated Anwar Phillips’ constitutional rights during a search, according to Phillips’ defense attorney, Alan Goldberg.

State police charged Phillips with manufacture, possession or intent to deliver a drug for a 2013 incident. The case was on its way to trial when the judge dismissed the charge Wednesday just before a suppression hearing.

“I was very happy that the Constitution still holds all of the water it should,” Goldberg told StateCollege.com.

This is not Phillips’ first run-in with the law.

In 2003, Phillips was acquitted on all charges related to a sexual assault case that led to his suspension from the university for two semesters.

Phillips is also one of several former Penn State football players who joined the family of the late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in a lawsuit against the NCAA and Penn State.

In the suit, plaintiffs ask for damages related to the unprecedented sanctions the NCAA leveled against Penn State’s football program following the arrest of former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, who is now a convicted pedophile.

Phillips was a two-year starter at cornerback. He made 104 tackles and seven interceptions while at Penn State. He earned a bachelor’s degree in labor and industrial relations. He then played in the NFL for two years.

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