Ex-QB Ryan Leaf Will Stay In Jail For 30 Days

While probation authorities in Great Falls, MT., and Randall County, TX., move ahead to get his 10-year drug-related probation revoked, former Washington State University and NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf will remain in jail for up to 30 days, according to the Great Falls Tribune. Authorities originally said Leaf would be released Wednesday.

Dawn Handa, regional administrator of the Great Falls Probation and Parole Office of the Montana Department of Corrections, said the 30-day hold is a procedural move that will give authorities the time they need to send information regarding Leaf’s legal problems between states.

“That gives us the time to gather and send the required paperwork to Texas,” Handa told the Great Falls Tribune.

Following two arrests on drug and burglary charges in Great Falls in a three-day span last weekend, the Randall County district attorney’s office and the adult probation office both indicated that they intend to revoke Leaf’s 10-year suspended sentence that he received in 2010.

The former quarterback had pleaded guilty to drug-related charges he received while coaching at West Texas A&M in Canyon, TX.

Once the Randall County prosecutor’s office receives the paperwork it needs, it will probably file a bench warrant requesting that Leaf appear in Texas to answer charges.

The new charges against Leaf from over the weekend, and his alleged probation violation being filed in Texas, both carry possible prison time.

Central Montana Drug Task Force investigators allege that Leaf was caught inside a personal residence Sunday afternoon, two days after bonding out of jail on similar charges from Friday.

“Here is, in my opinion, an individual screaming out for help,” said Great Falls Police Sgt. Chris Hickman, commander of the Central Montana Drug Task Force that has been investigating Leaf’s alleged drug-related activity for about a month. “Unfortunately, he’s putting himself at risk.”

Leaf, the 1997 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year after leading Washington State to its first Rose Bowl appearance in 67 years, was the second player taken in the 1998 NFL Draft. He washed out of the league after appearing in just 25 games with San Diego and Dallas.