One former, two current Southeast football players face drug charges

One former Southeast Missouri State University football player was arraigned Tuesday on felony charges of distributing a controlled substance, and two current players are due to be arraigned Monday on misdemeanor charges of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.

Hunter Bledsoe, who played in 11 games and made four starts at linebacker as a true freshman last season, admitted to selling marijuana earlier this summer because "he could not get a job due to his playing college football," according to a probable-cause statement filed by officer Mike Alford in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court.

"On the 25th of August, Mr. Bledsoe waived his preliminary hearing, and he was bound over to circuit court Division I with Judge Michael Gardner on Sept. 8," said Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecuting attorney Frank Miller, who is handling Bledsoe's case.

The shared home of Bledsoe, junior punter Alex Knight, senior long-snapper Wade Wright and sophomore linebacker Brad Ivey at 320 N. Fountain St. in Cape Girardeau was searched June 24 by members of the Cape Girardeau Police Department and Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force after a narcotics investigation.

A digital scale, marijuana cigarettes, grinder, small plastic bag of marijuana and two bongs were found in plain view in the living room, and more than 20 other pieces of evidence were seized in the rest of the house, according to the probable-cause statement.

Bledsoe, who has been charged with a felony count of distributing a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, "opened a large safe in his bedroom and was cooperative," Alford wrote in the statement.

There was a "drug ledger located on top of the safe" and "three large bags of marijuana and one plastic bag with marijuana cookies" as well as $6,225 in cash inside the safe and in Bledsoe's closet.

"Bledsoe stated all the money in the safe was drug proceeds and he did not have any personal money comingled (sic) with the drug money. Bledsoe stated a person he knew from college sent him the marijuana for 'free,'" according to Alford's statement. Bledsoe told officers he'd only been selling marijuana three days, and all the items in the living room belonged to him.

Five additional bags of marijuana, a glass jar containing marijuana, five bong stems, two pipes and a glass bong were found in Bledsoe's bedroom.

Southeast football players reported for summer workouts May 31 and participated in workouts throughout the month of June. Bledsoe, who was fourth on the team with 65 tackles last season, no longer is listed on the Redhawks roster.

Questioned about this Thursday, an athletic department spokesperson replied via text that "Hunter is no longer playing football and is continuing his education close to home. He is currently enrolled at Southwest Tennessee [Community College]."

Southeast football coach Tom Matukewicz said in a message Bledsoe was a walk-on for the Redhawks who no longer is associated with the team.

Knight, who averaged 41.4 yards per punt last season and is expected to punt for the Redhawks this season, was charged with misdemeanor unlawful use of drug paraphernalia after a marijuana pipe and bong stem were found in his bedroom.

"Knight admitted to the ownership of the pipe in his bedroom closet," Alford wrote.

Two bong stems and two marijuana roaches, which are the remains of a smoked joint, were found in Wright's room. Wright, who also is still on the roster, has been charged with misdemeanor unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.

Two additional bong stems were found in the house's kitchen.

"Ivey is not facing charges at this point due to Bledsoe taking ownership of the items in the common area of the residence," Alford wrote. No evidence was taken from Ivey's room.

Ivey played in nine games and started the final two as a freshman last year, recording 17 tackles.

The Southeast athletic department policy and procedure manual states "in all cases in which a student-athlete is arrested for or charged with illegal use of drugs, illegal gambling, or sexual misconduct or violence, the student-athlete will be immediately suspended, and the suspension may be lifted only by the Director of Athletics."

No arrests were made following the search of the home "due to their cooperation and Bledsoe returning to the residence and discussing the items seized," according to the statement.

Summonses were issued for Bledsoe on June 30 and for Knight and Wright on July 23. Knight and Wright are due to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday by Judge Gary Kamp.