Justice Hearing Is Continued

A pretrial hearing for USC offensive lineman Winston Justice was continued for two weeks Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Justice, 19, has pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor counts of exhibition of a replica firearm. He was arrested March 3 in connection with an incident that occurred near campus on Feb. 24; the starting tackle has been suspended by USC.

If convicted, the penalty for each count is 30 to 180 days in jail.

After conferring in the courtroom before Friday’s hearing, Larry Clough, one of Justice’s attorneys, and prosecutor Melanie Chavira of the Los Angeles city attorney’s office requested a continuance. Judge Robert J. Sandoval set a new date of May 21.

Sandoval also instructed three witnesses, including John Nagle, one of Justice’s attorneys, to appear June 3 for a proposed first day of trial.

Jerome Stanley, a sports agent and attorney, appeared briefly and conferred with Justice’s family but was not present during the proceeding.

Justice, who started at right tackle his first two seasons, will not be eligible for the 2004 season. He could return to USC for the 2005 season or make himself available for the 2005 NFL draft.

After Friday’s proceeding, Justice said he was working out and had decided about his future but did not want to comment about it.