BEREA: Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon attended a hearing at Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court on Wednesday in an effort to resolve a legal matter after a judge issued an arrest warrant for the suspended former All-Pro selection because he failed to submit to a paternity test.
The NFL, though, won’t punish Gordon in connection with the case. He is still scheduled to play for the first time this season Oct. 9 against the New England Patriots upon completing a four-game suspension for recurring violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy. He’ll be eligible to return to practice Oct. 3.
“This will not affect his status [with the league],” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Beacon Journal on Wednesday afternoon.
Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Judge Alison Floyd approved the arrest warrant Aug. 31 after Gordon failed to attend a hearing that day.
In a prepared statement, Gordon’s attorneys said their client was unaware until noon Wednesday that he had been previously requested in court.
Attorney Kevin Spellacy also told Cleveland.com the warrant was withdrawn after Gordon submitted a DNA test after Wednesday’s hearing. Another hearing is scheduled for Nov. 8.
Christina Lockhart of Maple Heights filed a complaint July 2, 2015, in juvenile court saying Gordon is the father of her 1-year-old daughter and no one else is presumed to be the father, according to court records. Lockhart is on welfare and seeks child support, according to the complaint.
Gordon was first ordered to submit samples for genetic testing by Sept. 23, 2015. He didn’t comply until Wednesday.
Subpoenas were sent to Gordon at multiple addresses in Cleveland and another in Los Angeles but were not returned, per court records.
“Josh Gordon was made aware that he was previously requested to be present in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court,” a statement attributed to Spellacy and attorney Walter Edwards read. “He was unaware of this fact until 12:00 p.m. today. Mr. Gordon immediately made himself available to the Court when he was informed that his presence had been previously required. He attended court today and a hearing was held. The matter was continued until November should a further hearing be needed.”
Gordon, who has been suspended for 29 of the past 34 games for drug violations, was in the locker room late Wednesday morning at Browns headquarters but did not speak to reporters.
The Browns have praised Gordon for doing well off the field since the NFL reinstated him in July. This case will cause some to question whether he’s still doing well.
“He still is doing well in my opinion,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t know all the inner workings of that [case]. I can’t tell you about everything that goes on outside this building. But I know in this building, in our meetings, with me, with our coaches, with the players, he has been outstanding. That’s what I have to judge on. Now we’ll find out about this other part and know a little bit more about it as we move forward, but I have nothing but great things to say about Josh.
“I’m not the judge, the jury on any of this. What I do is support. Let’s make sure we do the right thing, whatever that is, pertaining to the situation. But hopefully this will be wrapped up sooner rather than later.”
Gordon’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not reply to messages seeking comment.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.