Colts owner Jim Irsay facing charges

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been formally charged with two misdemeanors resulting from his March driving arrest.

The Hamilton County prosecutor's office has charged Irsay with one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a C misdemeanor, and one count of operating a vehicle with a schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in the body, also a C misdemeanor. The substances were oxycodone and/or hydrocodone, according to prosecutors.

Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Legal experts tell the Indianapolis Star that jail time is unlikely for a first-time offender such as Irsay.

An initial hearing is scheduled for June 19.

Irsay was arrested March 16 near his home in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel for allegedly operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He had $29,000 in cash and "numerous" bottles of prescription drugs in his vehicle at the time of his arrest, police said.

Irsay immediately entered a rehabilitation facility after his arrest. His daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, ran the team in his absence.

A statement on behalf of Irsay was issued by his legal team, Voyles, Zahn & Paul.

"We want to thank the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office for its professionalism in its investigation regarding Mr. Irsay and for devoting the necessary care and attention to determine the facts in this matter did not warrant the filing of felony charges relative to Mr. Irsay's prescription medications," the statement read. "Mr. Irsay will deal with the remaining misdemeanor charges through the judicial process."

Irsay is expected to be disciplined by commissioner Roger Goodell at some point. Goodell said earlier this week at the NFL owners meetings in Atlanta that he was waiting until he received "information or more facts" before deciding the measures he would take against Irsay.

The NFL's Personal Conduct Policy says that league representatives are held to a "higher standard" and "it is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime" in a legal situation to escape discipline. 

"The NFL's Personal Conduct Policy applies to all league personnel and holds all of us accountable," Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of communications, said in an email. "We are reviewing the matter and will take appropriate action in accordance with the policy."

Several players, including Washington Redskins safety Ryan Clark and NFLPA president Eric Winston, have been critical of Goodell's approach in dealing with Irsay's situation. Clark talked about the hypocrisy of the NFL and of Goodell, saying essentially that punishment would have been handed down more quickly for a player in a similar situation.  

Irsay was released from rehab and was in the Colts' situation room during the NFL draft. He also attended the owners meetings, where he made a pitch for Indianapolis to host the 2018 Super Bowl. The game was awarded to Minneapolis.