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LOGAN — A Utah State University football player was charged with seven felonies Monday for alleged weapon and drug-related offenses.
Christopher Steven Copier, a tight end who completed his junior season for the Aggies in 2015, is charged in two separate cases with six counts of possession or use of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Four of those counts are second-degree felonies, and three are third-degree felonies.
Copier, 24, is also charged in 1st District Court with possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony.
Utah State spokesman Tim Vitale confirmed Copier's status as a member of the football team but said he's "suspended indefinitely" from the team "pending the investigation."
USU officials also are looking into additional penalties against Copier arising from potential breaches of the school's student code, Vitale said. The university will complete its own investigation into the allegations against Copier and take into account the results of the criminal proceedings before making any decision on further discipline, the spokesman said.
Copier sold marijuana to undercover drug task force agents multiple times, Logan Police Capt. Tyson Budge said Monday. The agents are from an interagency unit used by Cache and Rich counties, he said.
Records show Copier was booked into the Cache County Jail on April 8, one day before Utah State's Blue vs. White Spring Game. Court documents give few details about the allegations against Copier but list the offense dates as Feb. 19 and April 8.
Police had Copier "under surveillance for a little while" before arresting him following a traffic stop, Budge said. Copier was in possession of a ¼ pound of marijuana and 46 ecstasy pills when he was arrested, the captain added.
After Copier's arrest, officers obtained a search warrant for his Logan residence and allegedly discovered a safe containing psychedelic mushrooms, Xanax pills, additional marijuana and edible items infused with marijuana's active ingredient, THC.
Budge said he didn't know what originally led police to investigate Copier. He said the firearm charge is the result of Copier having a handgun while also possessing illegal drugs.
Copier is out of custody after meeting a $55,000 bond, according to jail records. A search of court records indicates he has no significant criminal history in Utah prior to the current case.
Copier was a part of the Aggies' 2015 recruiting class after playing at Snow College. He played in 10 games last season, starting two of them, and caught one pass for 35 yards.
As a sophomore for Snow College, Copier had 21 receptions for 354 yards and one touchdown, and played in the National Junior College Athletic Association All-American Bowl.
Copier originally started his college career at BYU, where he redshirted in 2010. The nephew of former BYU and NFL tight end Doug Jolley, Copier served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Honolulu, Hawaii, returning in 2013.
He was named all-Region 3 first team and honorable mention all-state by the Deseret News as a senior at Bingham High and helped the Miners win the 2009 5A state football title.
Contributing: Brianna Bodily, Brandon Judd
