Ex-NFL player charged with girlfriend's murder in Spring gets 15 years for drug and gun charges

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- On the day his trial was set to begin, ex-NFL player Kevin Ware Jr. pleaded guilty to drugs and weapons charges in Montgomery County, clearing the way for his murder trial.

Jury selection was set to begin on Monday, but instead, the 41-year-old took a plea deal and was given a 15-year concurrent sentence for both charges. He will also get credit for 550 days of time served.

ABC13's Charly Edsitty asked Ware if he had anything to say after his sentence was read and he exited the courtroom. He said he did not.

This is just the latest development in months of legal troubles for Ware. He's also charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend, Taylor Pomaski.

Ware is a former Klein Oak High standout who played two seasons in the NFL.

RELATED: Ex-NFL player Kevin Ware indicted for murder in death of girlfriend Taylor Pomaski, DA's office says

Thursday's news of Kevin Ware's indictment on a murder charge was a longtime coming for Taylor Pomaski's parents, but the path to justice still continues for the grieving parents.

The drugs and weapons charges stem from an incident that occurred in April 2021.

Ware was pulled over for speeding -- allegedly going 115 mph.

When a deputy searched his vehicle, a loaded AK-47, along with other guns and drugs like cocaine and meth, were allegedly discovered.

SEE ALSO: Former NFL player Kevin Ware allegedly strangled, beat girlfriend Taylor Pomaski, court records show

Kevin Ware Jr.'s murder charge in the disappearance and death of his girlfriend Taylor Pomaski is now in the Harris County court record system.

Ware is a convicted felon and was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to deliver/manufacture a controlled substance.

He was out on bond for this incident when Pomaski, his 29-year-old girlfriend, disappeared from his Spring home.

Ware is now charged with her murder in Harris County -- accused of brutally murdering her and burning her body, which was found a few months later in a ditch in north Harris County.

ABC13 spoke with the prosecutor in Montgomery County during court on Monday. She said she was prepared to go to trial, but that started to change over the weekend.

"We had some conversations with a defense lawyer over the weekend that indicated this could be a possibility," Donna Hansen with the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said. "But we didn't know for sure that this was happening until this morning, pretty much as they were bringing the jurors into our courtroom."

Ware is likely being transported back to Montgomery County Jail. It's unclear when he will be transported to Harris County for his hearings in the murder case.

For news updates, follow Charly Edsitty on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Ex-NFL player whose girlfriend is missing given no bond during hearing

Kevin Ware Jr. was given no bond during a hearing on Tuesday on an unrelated case. The judge said it was "for the safety of the community."