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WEBVTT NURSE IS TRYING TOREACH A FINANCIAL DEAL WITH THECORNERBACK.THIS TIME, IT'S NOT BECAUSE HECURSED AT A POLICE OFFICER.[BLEEP]OR BECAUSE DETECTIVES CAUSED ARUCKUS AT A DOWNTOWN HOTEL ANDALLEGEDLY SPIT ON TAMMY HAWKINS,A NURSE WORKING AT THE COUNTYJAIL.HOPKINS IS APPARENTLY TRYING TOREACH A FINANCIAL SETTLEMENTWITH JONES.>> THAT'S KIND OF A PROBLEM FORUS BECAUSE WHEN THEY START GOINGDOWN THE CIVIL PATH, WE USUALLYDO NOT DO THINGS CRIMINALLY.THEY CLEARLYHAVE GONE DOWN THECIVIL PATH.>> HOPKINS WANTS BIG MONEY FROMTHE CORNERBACK.>> SHE WANTED $200,000.I DON'T CARE WHAT IT'S WORTH.I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERCOLLECTION AGENCY AND I'M NOTGOING TO BE PART OF THAT.>> A FELONY MAY BE OFF THETABLE.THEY ARE WAITING TO FIND OUT HOWJONES DOES IN A TREATMENTPROGRAM BEFORE DECIDING WHATCOMES NEXT.>> WE HAVE ONGOING DRUNKENTHINGS ALL THE TIME.LAWYER SAY WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.WE DO IT ALL THE TIME.

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In addition to the charges Adam Jones faces in connection with an incident in downtown Cincinnati in early January, a new war of words has emerged that could spare the Bengals cornerback additional jail time. Cincinnati police arrested Jones on Jan. 2, after detectives say he caused a ruckus at a downtown hotel. As he was being booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center, Jones allegedly spit on jail nurse Tammy Hopkins. On Friday, the county's top prosecutor said Hopkins is apparently trying to reach a financial settlement with Jones. "That's kind of a problem for us, because when they start going down the civil path we usually do not do things criminally," Prosecutor Joe Deters said. "They clearly have gone down the civil path." Deters told WLWT investigator Todd Dykes that Hopkins wants big money from the 33-year-old NFL player. "My understanding is she wanted $200,000," Deters said. "I don't care what it's worth civilly. If she gets a million dollars, good for her, I don't care. But I'm not going to be her collection agency, and I'm not going to be part of that." That means the charge involving the spitting incident, a felony, may be off the table. "Once they go down the civil route they're on their own," Deters said. "She chose to do that. She thought she hit the lottery cause a Bengal spit on her hand or whatever; that's good for her. But we don't play that game." For now, Deters is waiting to find out how Jones does in an alcohol treatment program before deciding what comes next in the criminal case. "We have people who do stupid drunken things all the time," Deters said. "And their lawyers come to us and say, 'Hey, he's got a problem. He's in treatment. Can you guys wait to see how this goes?' We do it all the time." Watch: Cruiser cam video shows aftermath of Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones arrest Prosecutors expect to get an update from doctors treating Jones next month. Even if the felony charge does not stick, Jones still faces misdemeanor assault, disorderly conduct, and obstructing official business charges. Dykes reached out to Hopkins' lawyer, Robert Karl, on Friday. He did not return Dykes' call. Making the current situation even more confounding is a published report indicating Hopkins is unhappy with how prosecutors are handling the case against Jones. According to a report in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Karl said Deters spoke to his client, suggesting Deters was heavy-handed toward Hopkins. "I've never talked to her in my life," Deters said. "I've never talked to her lawyer in my life. And somebody fabricated this story that we told her, you know, to just go away." Deters added, "For this to be used as a ploy to get money out of this defendant I think is outrageous." Even with the new development, some in the community feel Jones is getting preferential treatment because he's a high- profile athlete. Retired Common Pleas judge and current county Recorder Norbert Nadel says that's simply not the case. "The process is open. It's not like this is going on behind closed doors," Nadel said. "I think the prosecutor has been very up-front about it. ... Sure he has a duty to prosecute, but he also has the duty to do what he feels is the right thing. And I think it takes a lot of courage sometimes, but you try to do the right thing as a judge and as a prosecutor."