Lawrence Phillips was incarcerated in 2008. (Getty Images)
Lawrence Phillips was incarcerated in 2008. (Getty Images)

Infamous former Nebraska, NFL and CFL running back Lawrence Phillips has been charged with murder in the death of his cellmate in a California prison, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

In April, 37-year-old Damian Soward was found unresponsive in the Kern Valley State Prison cell he shared with Phillips, who was immediately named a suspect in Soward's death. Per the AP, officials later determined Soward had been strangled.

Phillips has been charged with first-degree murder and will be arraigned Sept. 15. Prosecutor Andi Bridges told BakersfieldNow.com that Phillips is "facing facing a term of 25 to life, plus 15 years." He does not appear to be facing the death penalty.

In 2008, Phillips was sentenced to 31 years in prison for convictions that included domestic violence, spousal abuse, false imprisonment and vehicle theft. In June, USA Today published a series of Phillips' harrowing letters from prison, many of which refer to the Huskers program where he starred from 1993 to 1995.

Phillips was selected with the sixth overall pick of the 1996 draft by the St. Louis Rams, but would play just 35 NFL games with the Rams, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.