Maas facing drug possession, weapons charges

PEORIA -- Central Illinois prosecutors charged one-time NFL player and former Fox Sports broadcaster Bill Maas on Monday with drug possession and weapons charges stemming from a July roadside safety check.

Maas, 45, was charged with two felony counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance after Illinois State Police found nearly 6 grams of cocaine in his Hummer and .2 grams of Ecstasy, said Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart Umholtz.

He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of unlawful use of a weapon after police allegedly found a loaded handgun in the vehicle.

State police asked to search Maas' Hummer after he appeared nervous during a July 6, safety check along Illinois Route 116, authorities have said.

A passenger in the Hummer, Sarah J. Murphy -- who, like Maas, is a resident of Lee's Summit, Mo. -- faces the same drug charges, but the 27-year-old does not face any weapons charges.

If convicted on all counts, a judge could sentence Maas to up to three years in prison, Umholtz said.

A hearing date has been set for Oct. 10.

Umholtz said Monday his office has contacted Missouri authorities about Maas' detention last week at the Kansas City International Airport, where federal screeners found a handgun in his carry-on bag. Maas, who has said he inadvertently brought the wrong bag with him, was released after questioning.

The incident in Kansas City would not directly affect the Tazewell County case, though Umholtz said a judge could take it into account at any future sentencing hearing.

Maas was drafted out of the University of Pittsburgh by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1984 and became a two-time National Football League all-pro selection. He played with the Chiefs until 1992 and with the Green Bay Packers the following year.

He joined Fox in 1996 and worked for the network as a reporter, anchor and game analyst through last season.