SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Prosecutors are weighing possible drug charges against baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda after the California Highway Patrol forwarded its investigation Friday.
The former San Francisco Giants star was arrested Tuesday after a CHP officer discovered marijuana and a white powder substance in his 2001 Lexus. CHP officials said the white power appeared to be cocaine or methamphetamine, although it was still being tested.
Cepeda, 69, was stopped after the officer clocked him driving 83 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 80 northeast of San Francisco.
On Friday, the CHP forwarded its report to prosecutors, recommending Cepeda be charged with one felony count for possessing a controlled substance. In addition to the speeding violation, the CHP also recommended two misdemeanor charges, for possession of a syringe and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
A spokeswoman for the Solano County District Attorney's office said the report was being reviewed.
Cepeda's attorney, Ted Cassman, told The Associated Press earlier this week that his client was innocent and did not use illegal drugs. He said the marijuana in Cepeda's car was for a family member's medical use, but he could not immediately explain the white powder. In 1976, Cepeda was sentenced to five years in prison in his native Puerto Rico for attempting to smuggle marijuana.
The former San Francisco Giants star was arrested Tuesday after a CHP officer discovered marijuana and a white powder substance in his 2001 Lexus. CHP officials said the white power appeared to be cocaine or methamphetamine, although it was still being tested.
Cepeda, 69, was stopped after the officer clocked him driving 83 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 80 northeast of San Francisco.
On Friday, the CHP forwarded its report to prosecutors, recommending Cepeda be charged with one felony count for possessing a controlled substance. In addition to the speeding violation, the CHP also recommended two misdemeanor charges, for possession of a syringe and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
A spokeswoman for the Solano County District Attorney's office said the report was being reviewed.
Cepeda's attorney, Ted Cassman, told The Associated Press earlier this week that his client was innocent and did not use illegal drugs. He said the marijuana in Cepeda's car was for a family member's medical use, but he could not immediately explain the white powder. In 1976, Cepeda was sentenced to five years in prison in his native Puerto Rico for attempting to smuggle marijuana.
