This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen items and cocaine earlier this month in Gilbert, Arizona, former BYU quarterback Max Hall can avoid criminal prosecution by participating in a one-year drug diversion program, according to a spokesman for the Maricopa County, Arizona, Attorney's Office.
Public Information Officer Jerry Cobb said this week that Hall was recently offered the diversion option, which includes mandatory drug testing and substance abuse treatment, all at his expense. If he completes the program, charges will not be filed.
Neither Hall nor family members returned phone calls about whether he will accept the offer to participate in the program administered by the Treatment Assessment Screening Center of Arizona.
However, Cobb said it would be "highly unusual" for a person in Hall's predicament to chose prosecution instead.
As of Tuesday, the office had no documentation that indicated Hall had agreed to participate in the program, but there was no documentation stating the county attorney was initiating prosecution, either.
The treatment center does not release any client information, per company policy, a spokesperson said Wednesday.
Hall, who was released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League last June, had been working as the offensive coordinator at Gilbert High School at the time of his arrest, but was released from that position the following week.
After winning a school-record 32 games as BYU's starting quarterback from 2006-09, Hall started in three games and played in six for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals in 2010.
After being released by the Cardinals prior to the 2011 season, he became a student assistant coach at BYU in 2012 while finishing his degree in property facility management.
He was arrested Aug. 30 at a Best Buy electronics store in Gilbert after a store employee told police he saw Hall taking iPod cases and other accessories and putting them into his backpack, according to the police report.
Police found a "personal use quantity of cocaine," drug paraphernalia and $286 worth of stolen electronics inside Hall's backpack, according to the report.
Twitter: @drewjay