it's official, Chris Henry blows

[Mr. Laz]

Bengals' Henry must use breathalyzer

BY BARRETT J. BRUNSMAN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

BATAVIA – BATAVIA – Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry will have to blow into a breathalyzer before he can start his car, a Clermont County Municipal Court judge ruled Tuesday.

In a pretrial hearing that stemmed from Henry’s DUI arrest June 3 on Interstate 275 in Union Township, Judge Victor M. Haddad granted the football player’s request that he be allowed back behind the wheel – so long as Henry has an ignition interlock system on whatever car he drives.

Henry’s attorney, Edward C. Perry, reiterated Henry’s not-guilty plea, and Perry requested that Henry be allowed to drive to and from his job with the Bengals, regardless of the time or day.


Assistant Prosecutor Carol Rowe said she didn’t object as long as the car had an interlock system.

Henry stood before the judge during the 3-minute appearance, but he said nothing.

Wearing black pants and a white short-sleeved shirt that revealed tattoos on both arms, Henry didn’t answer questions after the hearing. His attorney also declined comment.

A Florence resident, Henry was driving a 1984 passenger car 82 miles an hour in an area where the speed limit is 65 mph, according to a report by Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Shimko.

Henry, 23, was taken to the Milford Police Department, where he voluntarily took a breath test. His blood-alcohol level registered .092 percent, police said. Henry’s driver’s license was suspended automatically because he tested above Ohio’s legal limit of .08.

Perry noted Tuesday that Henry had been polite and cooperative with police, and that Henry had auto insurance.

Before allowing Henry to drive, Haddad noted that Henry had no record of previous convictions or stops for driving under the influence of alcohol. Perry said that was his understanding.

The judge imposed no restrictions on when or where Henry is allowed to drive, but Haddad instructed Henry to meet with a court compliance officer to discuss the options and costs of an interlock system for his car, as well as a letter granting permission to drive.

Such a system won’t allow a car to start until after someone breathes into the device to ensure he hasn’t been drinking.

Some interlock systems can be programmed to randomly monitor somebody behind the wheel of a moving car by beeping until the driver blows into a hand-held tube.

If the driver tests positive or fails to respond, the horn honks repeatedly while the car’s lights flash.

Henry might have to pay an installation charge and monthly service fees, which can vary according to the interlock vendor.

Perry asked for at least a month to prepare for Henry’s next court appearance in Clermont County, which was scheduled for July 26 before Haddad.

Henry, who is in his second season with the Bengals, pleaded not guilty June 15 to providing alcohol to three underage women at a Covington hotel in April. A pretrial hearing is set for June 29.

Kenton District Judge Douglas J. Grothaus ordered Henry to not drink any alcohol as a condition of his bond in that case.

Henry also faces a charge of carrying a concealed firearm in Florida, stemming from a Jan. 28 arrest.

In December, Henry was charged with marijuana possession in Covington. He pleaded guilty to that. In a plea agreement, he avoided jail time by entering a drug rehabilitation program.

E-mail bbrunsman@enquirer.com

[Sam Hall]

I played a guy in my FFL last season that started Chris Henry. Needless to say, I kicked his ass.

[HemiEd]

.092? what a pussy.

[big nasty kcnut]

That only the first half hour for me.

[Skyy God]

Million dollar hands, $.10 head.

[Mr. Laz]

Holmes could be in trouble with NFL

By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, June 21, 2006


No. 1 draft pick Santonio Holmes may be in violation of NFL policy as well as the laws of Ohio and Florida, which could impact the outset of his career with the Steelers, including his impending contract negotiations with the team.
Holmes' arrest early Monday morning in Columbus, Ohio, demands a league review, which could result in a disciplinary response under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Such discipline could range from "clinical evaluation" to "suspension."

"It's a zero-tolerance policy," Pittsburgh-based agent Ralph Cindrich said Tuesday.

According to the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, as it's presented on NFLmedia.com, "engaging in violent and/or criminal activity is unacceptable."

Unsigned rookies such as Holmes are considered covered by the policy once they're drafted.

Under the policy, it is considered conduct detrimental for "covered persons to engage in (or to aid, abet or conspire to engage in or to incite) violent and/or criminal activity. Examples of such prohibited conduct include, without limitation: any crime involving the use or threat of physical violence to a person or persons."

Covered persons charged with prohibited conduct "will be required to undergo a clinical evaluation and, if appropriate, additional counseling or treatment as directed. Failure to comply with evaluation and counseling obligations (including being arrested for or charged with additional criminal activity during the evaluation and counseling period) shall itself be conduct detrimental to the National Football League and shall be punishable by fine or suspension at the discretion of the commissioner."

Covered persons "convicted of or admitting to a criminal violation (including a plea to a lesser included offense; a plea of nolo contendere or no contest; or the acceptance of a diversionary program, deferred adjudication, disposition of supervision, or similar arrangement) will be subject to discipline as determined by the commissioner."

Holmes, a former Ohio State wide receiver, was arraigned Monday on charges of domestic violence by assault and assault, both first-degree misdemeanors, as well as an outstanding charge for speeding from a traffic accident on Oct. 18, 2005.

The domestic violence by assault and assault charges are punishable by a maximum of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Holmes pleaded not guilty on all three charges.

Holmes was released on his own recognizance Monday afternoon from the Franklin County (Ohio) jail and reported to the Steelers' South Side practice facility yesterday morning. He was put through his paces on the field by wide receivers coach Bruce Arians, spent some time in the weight room with conditioning coach Chet Fuhrman and met with director of football operations Kevin Colbert.

Holmes did not speak with reporters, but the Steelers issued the following statement from him:

"I understand that being a Pittsburgh Steeler carries along with it the demands for responsible behavior off the field. I want to apologize for the negative attention that my arrest on Monday has brought upon the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, especially in light of my previous arrest in May."

Holmes was arrested for disorderly conduct over the Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach, a charge a Miami Beach police spokesman dismissed as "nothing."

Holmes has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for July 7 in Ohio and another impending court date July 12 in Florida.

His agent, Joel Segal, declined comment yesterday. Steelers management also declined comment.

Cindrich anticipates that Holmes' troubles with the law will affect his upcoming contract negotiations with the Steelers.

"I don't think there's any question that any clause for protection they can get in there, they'll get in there," Cindrich said. "Almost assuredly, the club is going to force as much of a good conduct policy (into the contract) as possible.

"It's highly unlikely he'll receive a signing bonus in the same manner and fashion as other draft choices (with the majority being paid up front). It'll likely be spread out more (over several years) and contain a few more conditions."

The severity of any discipline handed out by the NFL would depend upon how violent it estimates Holmes to have been, Cindrich said.

Holmes' attorney, Sam Shamansky, wouldn't rule out the Ohio misdemeanor charges being dropped eventually.

"It's always possible," Shamansky said. "There's no sort of protocol on these things. Each case is unique, but as domestic violence charges go, they're all serious."

Cindrich said the league wouldn't necessarily wait for a conviction before administering its penalty.

Calls to the NFL yesterday were not returned.

"It may be a reprimand, may be a warning," Cindrich said. "If it got into a situation where there are just gruesome facts, I would see it happening right away."

Mike Prisuta can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com