ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, May 7, 1996 TAG: 9605070062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DALLAS
SOURCE: Associated Press
A DALLAS STATION airs a videotape that appears to show Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin buying cocaine two weeks after a drug indictment.
Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin, scheduled to stand trial June 24, allegedly bought cocaine two weeks after he was indicted for drug possession.
Then, while holding the cocaine in his left hand, Irvin reportedly chatted with a young fan who said he wanted to be like the wide receiver. Irvin and his alleged accomplice in the drug buy then drove away.
Irvin then offered some of the drug to the companion, who was at the wheel, according to the video aired Monday by KXAS, a Fort Worth, Texas, television station.
The station spent three months investigating the All-Pro receiver, broadcasting reports Sunday and Monday. Most prominent was video taken with a camera hidden in a car driven by an unidentified informant.
Irvin's attorney, Kevin Clancy, said Monday the first two installments of the series contained little of substance and nothing damaging to Irvin's defense.
``I still think we'll get a fair trial in Dallas,'' he said.
Clancy said he has obtained subpoenas for all videotapes made for the KXAS report, along with information on the identity and any money paid to the KXAS informant. Efforts to serve the subpoena failed Monday, but will continue today, he said.
Clancy's office said he planned to release a statement today.
Irvin was indicted April 1 on felony drug possession charges in connection with a March 4 seizure of cocaine and marijuana at an Irving, Texas, motel room.
Prosecutor Norman Kinne, the first assistant district attorney for Dallas County, said following Sunday night's broadcast that his office also may subpoena the station's videotapes.
``We'll look into this,'' he said, adding the report may make it tougher for Irvin to get a fair trial. On Monday, Kinne's office said he would have no further comment.
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys' owner, has said he doesn't believe Irvin has a drug problem. The NFL club had no immediate comment Monday on the television reports.
Irvin's troubles also include a recent charge that he assaulted a man near an Irving sports bar.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Irvin is ``entitled to a presumption of innocence'' and declined to comment further.
``The entire matter remains under review,'' said Greg Aiello, an NFL spokesman.
The first segment of the report featured clips from a back-seat hidden camera showing Irvin getting into a car driven by a man identified only as ``Dennis.''
The man, Irvin's self-described security adviser and friend, told KXAS that Irvin was returning to the car after buying about a half-ounce of cocaine.
Radio station WFAA identified the informant as Dennis Pedini, a former Cowboys employee and security systems installer. WFAA said the Cowboys fired Pedini after accusing him of forging a game-day pass for the team bench and making improper business contacts.
The television station declined Monday to discuss its report.
In Sunday night's video, Irvin returned to the car with a plastic bag. Before Irvin and the driver pulled away, a woman and her son approached the car. The two were heard, but not seen.
``Little man knows something. What you know, little champ?'' Irvin asked the boy.
The boy replied, ``I want to be like you.''
Irvin then was heard telling the woman: ``They say kids know more than we know because they're pure, pure in the mind and pure in the heart.''
Irvin then said to the boy, ``So see, you know I'm a good man, huh?''
Irvin told them, ``Forget what they say, huh? That's all right.''
In Sunday night's report, the informant said he wanted to leave the area immediately following the drug purchase.
``That is what was strange,'' he said. ``That is why I wanted to get out of there. We are stopping and talking. He had just purchased cocaine. It was in his left hand, the cocaine was.''
Videotape aired Monday night showed Irvin offering some of the drug to the driver.
``Here, you want some? ... A couple lines will help you,'' Irvin was heard saying.
When the driver turned down the offering, remarking that ``it stunts your growth,'' Irvin answered: ``I've already been stunted, then, if that's the case. I should have been stunted a long time ago.''
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Michael Irvin will go on trial June 24 on felonyby CNBdrug possession charges in connection with a March 4 incident in
Irving, Texas. color.