Judge allows Tank Johnson to travel for Super Bowl

SKOKIE, Ill. (AP) _ Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson will play in the Super Bowl _ with court approval. <br/><br/>Cook County Judge John Moran granted a defense request Tuesday to allow Johnson

Tuesday, January 23rd 2007, 12:50 pm

By: News On 6

SKOKIE, Ill. (AP) _ Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson will play in the Super Bowl _ with court approval.

Cook County Judge John Moran granted a defense request Tuesday to allow Johnson to leave the state as he awaits trial on gun possession charges. The Bears will play the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl in Miami on Feb. 4.

Defense attorney Lorna Propes said Johnson will be under no special restrictions or court supervision in Miami.

``Terry Johnson is going to Miami to play football and represent the Bears,'' she said.

Johnson was arrested Dec. 14 after police raided his home in Gurnee, about 40 miles northwest of Chicago. Prosecutors say officers found six weapons and ammunition in Johnson's home. He faces 10 counts of possession of firearms without a state gun-owner identification card.

Johnson, arrested three times in 18 months, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Assistant State's Attorney Rick Cenar said the prosecution did not object to the judge's decision because Johnson has complied with the terms of his home confinement.

``It's also a legitimate work-related reason,'' Cenar told reporters after the hearing.

Dressed in a dark suit, blue shirt and blue tie, Johnson stood quietly in the courtroom Tuesday, letting his attorneys speak for him.

Propes said Johnson has been ``100 percent'' compliant with the requirements of his home confinement.

``He's been there every single time they've checked on him,'' she said.

A court hearing to possibly drop Johnson's home confinement was set for Feb. 8, four days after the Super Bowl.

Earlier this month, a judge in Lake County, where Johnson's home is located, granted a defense request to allow him to travel freely outside the state.

But Cook County prosecutors argued Johnson's December arrest violated probation from a 2005 gun charge. A Cook County judge previously ordered Johnson to stay at home except to go to work, and he needed Moran's permission to leave Illinois for the Super Bowl.

Johnson's bodyguard, Willie B. Posey, was arrested on felony drug charges after the raid on Johnson's home; Posey was shot and killed two days later during an early morning fight while he and Johnson were at a nightclub in Chicago.

The Bears suspended Johnson for one game for being out at the club.