Marlins' Allison reportedly facing felony charges

MIAMI -- Former Marlins first-round pick Jeff Allison is in more legal trouble.

According to a report in the Greensboro News and Record in North Carolina, Allison faces three felony charges: one count for heroin possession and two for possession of stolen vehicles.

A native of Peabody, Mass., Allison was the Marlins' first pick (16th overall) in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. But repeated problems with drug dependency and incidents with the law have essentially put an end to his playing career, at least with the Marlins.

A hard-throwing right-hander from Veterans Memorial (Mass.) High School, Allison has appeared in just 20 Minor League games. He last pitched for Class A Greensboro in 2005, compiling a 5-4 record and 4.18 ERA in 17 games.

Recently, the Marlins placed Allison on the restricted list, meaning the team retains his rights but he is not actively in the organization. In 2003, he signed a contract with a $1.85 million signing bonus. But because of his troubles, he has received only a small amount of that total.

Allison, who now lives in Greensboro, has in the past dealt with OxyContin dependency. The 21-year-old suffered a heroin overdose in July 2004. And in August, the Boston Globe reported that Allison was found unconscious in an apartment building.