Post by lazarus on Jun 11, 2003 9:45:01 GMT -5
Jail time likely for Stevens in drunk driving case
MIKE SANDO; The News Tribune
KIRKLAND - Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens is facing the strong likelihood of jail time.
But for how long? The two-part answer could come Thursday morning and June 23.
Stevens, who pleaded guilty to reckless driving Tuesday, is scheduled to appear in Seattle Municipal Court for a probation revocation hearing Thursday at 9 a.m.
The hearing was triggered by Stevens' arrest April 3 in Medina on suspicion of drunken driving. The arrest violated terms of Stevens' probation in a 2001 hit-and-run case (the probation was within days of expiring when Stevens was arrested).
The city of Seattle could request jail time for Stevens at the probation revocation hearing. His original punishment included a suspended sentence of 90 days.
While Stevens' teammates participated in a voluntary minicamp Tuesday morning, the first-round draft choice from the University of Washington in 2002 made a mandatory appearance in Kirkland Municipal Court.
The drunken-driving charge was dropped in exchange for Stevens' guilty plea to reckless driving.
But the conviction forces Stevens to repay $300,000 to the Seahawks under terms of his six-year, $7.2 million contract. And further punishment looms.
The larger issue for Stevens is whether he will be a free man when the Seahawks open training camp July 25. His record has convictions for assault and hit-and-run, plus numerous moving violations within the past year.
"Looking at your record," Kirkland Municipal Court judge Albert Raines said in chastising Stevens. "I see a pattern of indifference toward the people I'm supposed to be protecting."
Defense attorney Jon Fox lobbied for an immediate resolution to the drunken-driving case, but Raines rejected the sentence proposed by Fox and Medina prosecutor Russell Joe.
The proposal called for Stevens to serve two days in jail, plus 100 hours of community service and a fine of $1,000.
When it became clear Raines would not mete out a sentence Tuesday, Fox requested the earliest sentencing date possible. Raines chose June 23.
One issue was Stevens' claim that he drinks alcohol only on weekends. April 3 was a Thursday and the arresting officer said Stevens was driving erratically with two open champagne bottles in reach.
Stevens previously said he quit drinking altogether.
"Mr. Stevens, I think you may have a problem with alcohol," Raines said. "In order to treat you fairly, I don't believe I can sentence you today. I owe that much to the public."
Raines asked Fox to provide additional information about Stevens' drinking habits.
"The things just don't line up to me," Raines said.
Raines ordered Stevens to forgo driving until sentencing. The judge also forbade Stevens from possessing and consuming alcohol and non-prescription drugs during that period.
"I'm willing to take responsibility for it and agree to whatever it is you require me to do," Stevens told the judge.
Stevens, 23, has a criminal record dating to a 1998 conviction for assault.
He is presently a defendant in a civil suit seeking damages stemming from a 2000 rape allegation.
"My hope with Jerramy ... is that he listens and learns," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said.
"The behavior must change. That's the bottom line."
Mike Sando: 425-822-9504
mike.sando@mail.tribnet.com
(Published 12:01AM, June 11th, 2003)
MIKE SANDO; The News Tribune
KIRKLAND - Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens is facing the strong likelihood of jail time.
But for how long? The two-part answer could come Thursday morning and June 23.
Stevens, who pleaded guilty to reckless driving Tuesday, is scheduled to appear in Seattle Municipal Court for a probation revocation hearing Thursday at 9 a.m.
The hearing was triggered by Stevens' arrest April 3 in Medina on suspicion of drunken driving. The arrest violated terms of Stevens' probation in a 2001 hit-and-run case (the probation was within days of expiring when Stevens was arrested).
The city of Seattle could request jail time for Stevens at the probation revocation hearing. His original punishment included a suspended sentence of 90 days.
While Stevens' teammates participated in a voluntary minicamp Tuesday morning, the first-round draft choice from the University of Washington in 2002 made a mandatory appearance in Kirkland Municipal Court.
The drunken-driving charge was dropped in exchange for Stevens' guilty plea to reckless driving.
But the conviction forces Stevens to repay $300,000 to the Seahawks under terms of his six-year, $7.2 million contract. And further punishment looms.
The larger issue for Stevens is whether he will be a free man when the Seahawks open training camp July 25. His record has convictions for assault and hit-and-run, plus numerous moving violations within the past year.
"Looking at your record," Kirkland Municipal Court judge Albert Raines said in chastising Stevens. "I see a pattern of indifference toward the people I'm supposed to be protecting."
Defense attorney Jon Fox lobbied for an immediate resolution to the drunken-driving case, but Raines rejected the sentence proposed by Fox and Medina prosecutor Russell Joe.
The proposal called for Stevens to serve two days in jail, plus 100 hours of community service and a fine of $1,000.
When it became clear Raines would not mete out a sentence Tuesday, Fox requested the earliest sentencing date possible. Raines chose June 23.
One issue was Stevens' claim that he drinks alcohol only on weekends. April 3 was a Thursday and the arresting officer said Stevens was driving erratically with two open champagne bottles in reach.
Stevens previously said he quit drinking altogether.
"Mr. Stevens, I think you may have a problem with alcohol," Raines said. "In order to treat you fairly, I don't believe I can sentence you today. I owe that much to the public."
Raines asked Fox to provide additional information about Stevens' drinking habits.
"The things just don't line up to me," Raines said.
Raines ordered Stevens to forgo driving until sentencing. The judge also forbade Stevens from possessing and consuming alcohol and non-prescription drugs during that period.
"I'm willing to take responsibility for it and agree to whatever it is you require me to do," Stevens told the judge.
Stevens, 23, has a criminal record dating to a 1998 conviction for assault.
He is presently a defendant in a civil suit seeking damages stemming from a 2000 rape allegation.
"My hope with Jerramy ... is that he listens and learns," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said.
"The behavior must change. That's the bottom line."
Mike Sando: 425-822-9504
mike.sando@mail.tribnet.com
(Published 12:01AM, June 11th, 2003)