Aaron Hernandez received a big payday before he was cut from the New England Patriots, but he’s apparently low on money and can no longer afford his defense attorneys.
The former Pats tight end filed a motion asking the Suffolk County court to “to make financial arrangements to retain counsel,” as first reported Friday by Fox Sports.
The 24-year-old made $18 million over the course of the three years he played in New England and has seemingly blown through it all amid his legal cases.
Boston lawyers Charles Rankin and James Sultan have represented Hernandez since last summer. Hernandez was arrested for the mid-June killing of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player who was dating a sister of Hernandez’s fiancée.
Hernandez pleaded not guilty Wednesday to seven charges — including two counts of first-degree murder — in a case entirely separate from the killing of Lloyd.
Both Rankin and Sultan appeared to represent Hernandez earlier this week, but have both expressed to the court that they may choose not to continue as Hernandez’s counsel.
Hernandez has been jailed without bail for almost a year now, as he faces murder charges in both cases.
