Murder suspect who is ex-Hurricanes player accused of smuggling drugs into jail

A former University of Miami football player accused of killing his teammate in 2006 was re-arrested Tuesday for smuggling drugs into jail, officials say.

Rashaun Jones, 40, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly possessing K-2, or ADB-Butanica, a cannabinoid-receptor drug, during his time in Miami-Dade’s Metro West Detention Center in March 2024.

Jones has been in jail since 2021 after prosecutors accused him of shooting and killing fellow Hurricanes player Bryan Pata in November 2006 during a fit of jealous rage. Pata, who was expected to be a top NFL draft pick, was killed outside his apartment in Kendall.

An arrest report said the drugs — found in paper-like sheets — were found in Jones’ shirt sleeve and waist band in 2024, but the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office drug-test results were not evaluated until this week, leading to his second arrest Tuesday.

Jones’ murder case was tried in March but resulted in a hung jury and mistrial.

A new trial was set to start on May 18, but Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cristina Miranda pushed the date back because of several motions filed by both prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Included in those filings was a motion to dismiss the case due to an ongoing investigation into the lead detective, Juan Segovia.

Segovia is accused of posting biased opinions to @balanceof_justice — an Instagram account that Jones’ attorneys say is linked to Segovia. One comment said Jones was “guilty as sin.”

Jones’ lead attorney, Sara Alvarez, did not immediately respond to a Miami Herald reporter’s request for comments.

Jones now faces a felony charge of introduction/possession of a jail-controlled substance along with his previous charge of second-degree murder with a weapon.

His new murder trial will start on Sept. 14.