‘Pacman’ wants to do the right thing, his lawyer says, but isn’t sure what that is

By Jeff German (contact)

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | 7:21 a.m.

District Attorney David Roger wants suspended NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones to do the "right thing" and help police identify the suspect in a shooting outside a Las Vegas strip club that left a bouncer paralyzed.

Roger filed two felony coercion charges against Jones last week, accusing him of sparking a melee inside the Minxx topless club Feb. 19 moments before the shooting that wounded three people, including bouncer Tom Urbanski, who was left paralyzed from the waist down.

Police believe that Jones, who was at the nightclub with an entourage, knows who fired the shots.

Roger said he has had preliminary discussions with the troubled football player's attorneys about obtaining his cooperation and would consider giving Jones a break in the criminal case if he helps authorities.

The district attorney said he also would put in a good word for Jones with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended the 23-year-old Tennessee Titans cornerback earlier this year over his repeated brushes with the law.

"If he's willing to help us identify the shooter and testify in court, I would do my part in letting the commissioner know he's willing to take positive steps to turn his life around," Roger said. "It's the right thing to do. A man has been paralyzed for life, and his family wants justice."

Las Vegas attorney Robert Langford, who represents Jones, said it's premature to seek his client's cooperation.

"We're going to do everything we can to do the right thing," Langford said. "At this point, I don't know what that is. I need to have further discussions with Mr. Roger."

Langford noted that the criminal charges were filed against Jones after he had talked to police several times.

"Do you think that makes him want to go to the police again?" Langford said.

One thing Jones risks by not cooperating further, however, is his liability in the shooting, which occurred during the NBA All-Star weekend.

Although Jones is charged only in the fight inside the Minxx, there's still a possibility that others could implicate him in the shooting outside.

Jones' 37-year-old bodyguard, Robert Reid of California, and 25-year-old Sadia Morrison of California were charged with Jones last week in the altercation inside the club.

"The first one who shows up in the office with information about the shooter gets the best deal," Roger said.