A new plea-bargin:

[Felix The Assassin]

If this were a common person, what would the outcome be?

MIAMI (AP)—Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth(notes) began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Florida, a punishment made possible by his cooperation with investigators and the fervent wish by the victim’s family to put the matter behind them.

Stallworth, 28, received the sentence after pleading guilty to a DUI manslaughter charge for striking and killing Mario Reyes while driving drunk March 14 in his black 2005 Bentley. The athlete also reached a confidential financial settlement with the family of the 59-year-old construction worker.

Without the plea deal, the DUI manslaughter conviction could have netted Stallworth 15 years in prison. After his release from jail, he must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation. The house arrest provisions will allow him to resume his football career, his attorney said.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is reviewing the matter for possible disciplinary action. Stallworth could face suspension without pay for some games this year.

Leonard Little(notes) of the Rams pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after he hit and killed a woman while driving drunk in 1998 and served an eight-game suspension, though the punishment was doled out when the league was a bit more lenient.

The Browns also said they were evaluating the situation, saying they were “very conscious of the seriousness of the charges” to which Stallworth pleaded guilty.

Stallworth’s attorney, Christopher Lyons, said the financial settlement was only one factor in the plea agreement. He noted that Stallworth stopped immediately after the accident, called 911 and submitted to roadside alcohol testing despite spending most of the night drinking at a swanky Miami Beach hotel.

“He acted like a man,” Lyons said. “He remained at the scene. He cooperated fully.”

Stallworth told Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy that he hopes to get involved in drunken driving education programs.

“I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy,” said Stallworth, who was accompanied at the hearing by his parents, siblings and other supporters. “I will bear this burden for the rest of my life.”

Stallworth also must undergo drug and alcohol testing, will have a lifetime driver’s license suspension and must perform 1,000 hours of community service. Lyons said after five years, Stallworth could win approval for limited driving such as for employment.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle echoed Lyons in citing Stallworth’s lack of previous criminal record, cooperation and willingness to accept responsibility as factors in the plea deal. Rundle also said the Reyes family—particularly the victim’s 15-year-old daughter—wanted the case resolved to avoid any more pain.

“For all of these reasons, a just resolution of this case has been reached,” Rundle said.

None of the Reyes family attended the hearing. Their attorney, Rodolfo Suarez, read a statement saying the family wants to “bring closure to this emotional and tragic event.” Suarez did not respond to an email seeking comment.

After a night drinking at a bar in Miami Beach’s Fountainebleau hotel, police said Stallworth hit Reyes, a construction crane operator who was rushing to catch a bus after finishing his shift around 7:15 a.m. Stallworth told police he flashed his lights in an attempt to warn Reyes, who was not in a crosswalk when he was struck.

Stallworth had a blood-alcohol level of .126 after the crash, well above Florida’s .08 limit. Stallworth stopped after the crash and immediately told officers he had hit Reyes. Police estimated Stallworth was driving about 50 mph in a 40 mph zone.

Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured much of the year. The California native and University of Tennessee college star has also played in the NFL for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

The night before the crash, Stallworth earned a $4.5 million roster bonus from the Browns.

[Lord of Alcohol]

Gee I wonder what sentence I would get if I ran someone over, I have no money.

[VulcanRider]

"The athlete also reached a confidential financial settlement with the family..." I'm sure that helped, but I'll give him credit. It sounds like he accepted full responsibility and didn't try to wiggle out like most jocks & celebrities do... If the family is ok with it, that's what counts most.

[SpiritWarrior]

The family wanted the money, he basically paid them off. And got 30 days for drink driving. I'm not sure whether I think this is fair or not...I mean, if the victims family are okay with this settlement, and see it as justice for them, possibly using the money for things that they needed I guess that's ok? I'm kinda on the fence about it. The assurance I kinda want is that if he hit someone else and they refused his settlement money, demanding he do hard time instead and then was ordered to do so by the court. In this case this was the family's call.

Why can't you post more stuff like this, Felix?

[Dragonshadow]

On the one hand, I don't like how easily he got off...
But, like has been said, if the family are okay with the deal, that is the important thing.

[Lord of Alcohol]

It will be interesting to see what punishment Plaxico Burress gets for managing to shoot himself in a NYC nightclub. While I think Stallworths getting off light, as has been said at least he is being a man about it.

[Felix The Assassin]

UPDATE

NEW YORK (AP)—Cleveland Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth(notes) was indefinitely suspended by the NFL on Thursday for driving drunk and killing a pedestrian in Miami.

“The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter to Stallworth.

“While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL,” Goodell said.

Stallworth, who will not be paid during the suspension, pleaded guilty this month to a DUI manslaughter charge for striking Mario Reyes on March 14. He began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday and has reached a financial settlement with the family of the 59-year-old construction worker.

After jail, Stallworth must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation. The house arrest provisions would allow him to play.

Goodell said that, eventually, he would contact Stallworth’s representatives before determining the length of the suspension.

“There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league,” Goodell said.

Browns general manager George Kokinis said in a statement: “We support the action taken by the commissioner today and will continue to work closely with the league regarding this matter.”

The NFL Players Association had no comment.

The last player indefinitely suspended by the league was Adam “Pacman” Jones of the Dallas Cowboys in October 2008. However, that punishment turned into a six-week ban.

After a night drinking at a bar in Miami Beach’s Fountainebleau hotel, police said Stallworth hit Reyes, who was rushing to catch a bus after finishing work about 7:15 a.m. Stallworth told police he flashed his lights in an attempt to warn Reyes, who was not in a crosswalk when struck.

Stallworth, who stopped after the crash and reported the accident, had a blood-alcohol level well above Florida’s legal limit. Police estimated Stallworth was driving about 50 mph in a 40 mph zone.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle cited Stallworth’s cooperation and willingness to accept responsibility as factors in the plea deal. Rundle also said the Reyes family—particularly the victim’s 15-year-old daughter—wanted the case resolved.

Stallworth must undergo drug and alcohol testing. His driver’s license was suspended for life and he must perform 1,000 hours of community service.

Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured much of the year, finishing with 17 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown. The Tennessee college star has also played in the NFL for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

The night before the crash, Stallworth earned a $4.5 million roster bonus from the Browns, whose offseason moves indicated they were not counting on him.

They added free-agent wide receiver David Patten(notes) this spring as protection and then drafted Ohio State’s Brian Robiskie(notes) and Georgia’s Mohamed Massaquoi(notes). Patten is in his second stint with the club after stops in New Orleans, the New York Giants, New England and Washington.

The Browns also released receiver Joe Jurevicius(notes) three days before the accident.

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally Posted by SpiritWarrior Why can't you post more stuff like this, Felix?

That is my MO, however some here are incapable of seeing the obvious due to their ordained visions.

[SpiritWarrior]

Like pastors?

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally Posted by SpiritWarrior Like pastors?

Not exactly: More like
"to ordain a new type of government".