Pats’ Chung facing cocaine possession charge in N.H.

Patrick Chung, a key component of the New England Patriots' defense for nearly each of the past 10 seasons, was indicted by a New Hampshire grand jury on a felony cocaine-possession charge on Aug. 8, court documents show. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charge in Belknap County Superior Court next Wednesday.

The incident occurred on June 25 in Meredith, N.H., according to court documents. Public records indicate that Chung owns a home on Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith, a little more than two hours north of Patriots team headquarters in Foxborough, Mass.

A Class B cocaine-possession felony in New Hampshire carries a possible prison term of seven years. The "Class B" indicates that it's a first offense.

According to the Laconia Daily Sun, an indictment in New Hampshire is not an indication of guilt but rather a finding by a grand jury that

enough evidence of a crime exists to bring a case to trial. During his arraignment hearing, Chung will be told of the charge against him and asked to enter a plea (though an attorney can ask to appear on a client's behalf). If his case goes to trial, court documents have targeted next March for jury selection, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. It's unlikely that Chung will face any possible NFL sanction until his legal situation is resolved.

In a statement, the Patriots said they were aware of the reports involving Chung, but would not "be commenting while his judicial proceedings take place."

Chung was not spotted at Patriots practice Wednesday, according to multiple reports (New England hosted Carolina in a preseason game Thursday night).