Ex-Jet Goodson skips court date in Jersey

A WEEK after Mike Goodson failed to show up for mandatory minicamp, he skipped his hearing at the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown, N.J., too.

Forgoing minicamp prompted the Jets to release him, but missing his court date Thursday morning drew the ire of Judge Mary Whipple, although she declined to put a warrant out on the missing running back for the time being.

“If he’s not here for his next court date he will be arrested,” Whipple said.

Goodson is still in Texas, attorney Alfred Gellene said. Gellene added that Goodson was trying to return to New Jersey but was having some “financial issues” with the flight. Gellene said he was “fully confident” Goodson would be present for his next court date on July 24.

“If he can’t fly, he’ll drive,” Whipple said.

“Or walk, Judge,” Gellene quipped back.

“Or the bus,” Whipple responded.

Goodson’s brother, Demetri Goodson, told the Daily News last week that his brother was in Houston.

Assistant prosecutor Peter Foy expressed some concern during the status hearing over the running back’s absence, pointing out that Goodson is not presently employed.

Goodson is facing weapons and drug charges from an incident in May of 2013 when police say he was the passenger in a stopped vehicle in a middle lane on Interstate 80 West in Denville, N.J., while intoxicated at 3:15 a.m.

Police say they found a handgun loaded with a hollow-point bullet in the glove compartment.

Goodson, 27, was indicted on second- and fourth-degree weapons charges in November and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His co-defendant, Garant Evans, was present at Thursday’s hearing.

Gellene said he spoke to Goodson Thursday morning and that he is well, but the attorney did not know why his client skipped the mandatory minicamp last week. Goodson signed a three-year, $6.9 million contract with the Jets last offseason, although that was later restructured before the start of the 2013 season.