Jury still undecided in assault trial of former Steelers linebacker

<p>Prosecutors say former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Greg Lloyd stuck a gun in his son's mouth to punish him for poor grades. A defense lawyer argues the charge was concocted by Lloyd's estranged wife to get an upper hand in their pending divorce.</p><p>Lloyd faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of aggravated assault.</p><p>Jurors deliberated for nine hours Tuesday and Wednesday without reaching a verdict. Deliberations were to resume Thursday.</p><p>The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Lloyd is accused of sticking a Glock semiautomatic pistol in his then-12-year-old son's mouth in 2001. Lloyd, upset over his son's poor grades in school, allegedly told the boy, "If you want to waste your life, I can end it now," prosecutor Dan Hiatt said.</p><p>But Lloyd's lawyer, Ricky Morris, said his client is innocent and was being set up by his estranged wife, Rhonda Lloyd.</p><p>Lloyd, 38, and his wife are involved in a bitter divorce and Rhonda Lloyd is seeking full custody of their son. Morris noted that the charge was not filed until last year, after the boy first reported it to a counselor.</p><p>The boy, now 15, is currently living with Rhonda Lloyd. Greg Lloyd has been in jail the last three months after a judge denied him bail.</p><p>Greg Lloyd has been in trouble with the law before.</p><p>In January 2003, Lloyd was charged with simple battery for allegedly pointing a gun at his wife's head, Hiatt said. He later pleaded no contest to that charge and was sentenced to probation and ordered to undergo domestic violence counseling.</p><p>In June 2003, Hiatt said, Lloyd was charged with aggravated stalking in connection with an incident at a Mail Boxes Etc. store. Rhonda Lloyd accused her husband of taking a package that belonged to her and calling her on a cell phone in violation of a restraining order, Hiatt said. That case is still pending.</p><p>Testimony in the current trial lasted two days. Both the boy and Lloyd testified.</p><p>Lloyd played for the Steelers for 12 years before he was cut from the team in 1998 because of injuries, and he finished his career with the Carolina Panthers. He was selected to five Pro Bowls with the Steelers.</p>