Jets third-round pick Kenrick Ellis' trial on felony charge pushed back to November
Updated: Mar. 31, 2019, 2:28 a.m. | Published: Jul. 08, 2011, 6:45 p.m.
By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger
William Perlman/The Star-LedgerThe Jets said third-round draft pick Kenrick Ellis passed the team's rigorous background check.
Jets third-round draft pick Kenrick Ellis' trial on a malicious wounding felony charge has been moved from next Tuesday to Nov. 28, according to court records.
Ellis was arrested in April 2010, during his time at Hampton University. The defense asked for a continuance because Ellis retained a new attorney, per the Hampton Circuit Court's records, and the City of Hampton's Commonwealth's Attorney office did not object.
The Commonwealth has nine months to try a case, but when the defense asks for a continuance, the delay does not count against that timeline. A court clerk said there is no limit to the number of times a case can be continued.
The new trial date would be in the middle of the 2011 NFL season -- provided labor peace allows for a season — but the defense could ask for another continuance. Ellis' new defense attorney was out of the office today and did not immediately return a phone message.
Ellis, a 6-5, 345-pound nose tackle, is an excellent fit for the Jets' 3-4 defense. When the Jets drafted him, general manager Mike Tannenbaum said Ellis passed the team's "rigorous background check."
"Maybe his risk is more than others," Tannenbaum said at the time. "But if we didn't feel like there was a path to have him be successful here, we wouldn't have taken him."
About a dozen Jets have been training together at TEST Sports Clubs in Martinsville for the past couple weeks, including quarterback Mark Sanchez, tight end Dustin Keller, safety Eric Smith and draft picks Ellis and running back Bilal Powell. Linebacker Bart Scott, and rehabbing right tackle Damien Woody and receiver Jerricho Cotchery, have been part of a smaller Jets contingent at the facility since this spring.
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Jenny Vrentas: jvrentas@starledger.com