Clarett agrees to plead guilty in criminal cases

**Fire Me Boy!** · 12:40 PM

Clarett agrees to plead guilty in criminal cases

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Former Ohio State football star Maurice Clarett agreed Monday to plead guilty to aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon. The deal would send him to prison for at least 3{ years and end two criminal cases against him.

The agreement was announced by Judge David Fais on the day jury selection was to begin in a case in which Clarett is accused of holding up two people outside a bar.

The concealed weapon charge was from his August arrest after a highway chase with police who found four loaded guns in Clarett's sport utility vehicle after they spiked the tires. Police used pepper spray to subdue and handcuff Clarett, who was wearing a bulletproof vest.

The deal called for a 7{-year sentence with release possible after 3{ years. The 22-year-old player also agreed to serve five years of probation after the prison sentence.

Clarett said he understood he was pleading guilty and reversing his earlier innocent plea.

"I'd like to apologize for my behavior, and I accept the time that was given to me," he said.

After the deal was announced, he looked over at his mother who was sobbing and holding his 8-week-old daughter while sitting next to his girlfriend.

Assistant Prosecutor Tim Mitchell said the plea deal is consistent with how his office handles similar cases.

"Anyone else would have gone to prison. He's not getting any special treatment," Mitchell said.

"As robberies go it wasn't as bad as some I've seen."

Defense attorneys left the courtroom without commenting.

After the police-chase incident, Clarett was charged with two counts of failure to comply with an order from a police officer and improper handling of a firearm, in addition to the concealed-weapon charge.

The case generated such intense media coverage Clarett's attorneys asked the court to pay for a public opinion poll to determine if an impartial jury could be seated for the robbery trial. Fais denied the request.

Clarett scored the winning touchdown in the second overtime of the Fiesta Bowl to lead Ohio State to the 2002 national championship, but that was the last game he played for the Buckeyes.

After dropping out of Ohio State, he lost a U.S. Supreme Court case challenging the NFL's requirement that players wait three years after high school before turning pro. The Denver Broncos made Clarett a surprise third-round pick in the NFL's 2005 draft but cut him during the preseason.

Eleazar · 09-18-2006, 12:27 PM

What a waste of skin.

DMAC · 09-18-2006, 12:29 PM

His big ears will serve as some good handlebars for his inmates.

StcChief · 09-18-2006, 02:37 PM

Gangsta' wanna be FU.

jspchief · 09-18-2006, 02:38 PM

I can't believe his attempt at an insanity plea didn't work out.

Halfcan · 09-18-2006, 03:04 PM

loser

2bikemike · 09-18-2006, 03:05 PM

What a waste of talent. I am not sure if this guy could have ever cut it but if he would have kept his nose clean and played all his eligible years in college he had a pretty damn good chance of being an NFL star.

Sometimes you can take the kid out of the hood but you can't take the hood out of the kid.

StcChief · 09-18-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

What a waste of talent. I am not sure if this guy could have ever cut it but if he would have kept his nose clean and played all his eligible years in college he had a pretty damn good chance of being an NFL star.

Sometimes you can take the kid out of the hood but you can't take the hood out of the kid.

In this day and age.... Alot of times.

09-18-2006, 12:26 PM
Fire Me Boy! Cast Iron Jedi Join Date: Nov 2004 Casino cash: $9999900 VARSITY	Clarett agrees to plead guilty in criminal cases Clarett agrees to plead guilty in criminal cases COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Former Ohio State football star Maurice Clarett agreed Monday to plead guilty to aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon. The deal would send him to prison for at least 3{ years and end two criminal cases against him. The agreement was announced by Judge David Fais on the day jury selection was to begin in a case in which Clarett is accused of holding up two people outside a bar. The concealed weapon charge was from his August arrest after a highway chase with police who found four loaded guns in Clarett's sport utility vehicle after they spiked the tires. Police used pepper spray to subdue and handcuff Clarett, who was wearing a bulletproof vest. The deal called for a 7{-year sentence with release possible after 3{ years. The 22-year-old player also agreed to serve five years of probation after the prison sentence. Clarett said he understood he was pleading guilty and reversing his earlier innocent plea. "I'd like to apologize for my behavior, and I accept the time that was given to me," he said. After the deal was announced, he looked over at his mother who was sobbing and holding his 8-week-old daughter while sitting next to his girlfriend. Assistant Prosecutor Tim Mitchell said the plea deal is consistent with how his office handles similar cases. "Anyone else would have gone to prison. He's not getting any special treatment," Mitchell said. "As robberies go it wasn't as bad as some I've seen." Defense attorneys left the courtroom without commenting. After the police-chase incident, Clarett was charged with two counts of failure to comply with an order from a police officer and improper handling of a firearm, in addition to the concealed-weapon charge. The case generated such intense media coverage Clarett's attorneys asked the court to pay for a public opinion poll to determine if an impartial jury could be seated for the robbery trial. Fais denied the request. Clarett scored the winning touchdown in the second overtime of the Fiesta Bowl to lead Ohio State to the 2002 national championship, but that was the last game he played for the Buckeyes. After dropping out of Ohio State, he lost a U.S. Supreme Court case challenging the NFL's requirement that players wait three years after high school before turning pro. The Denver Broncos made Clarett a surprise third-round pick in the NFL's 2005 draft but cut him during the preseason. Last edited by Fire Me Boy!; 09-18-2006 at 12:40 PM..
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09-18-2006, 12:27 PM	#2
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	What a waste of skin.
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09-18-2006, 12:29 PM	#3
DMAC MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $10008735	His big ears will serve as some good handlebars for his inmates.
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09-18-2006, 02:37 PM	#4
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	Gangsta' wanna be FU. __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
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09-18-2006, 02:38 PM	#5
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	I can't believe his attempt at an insanity plea didn't work out. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
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09-18-2006, 03:04 PM	#6
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	loser
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09-18-2006, 03:05 PM	#7
2bikemike Born to Ride Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NWA Casino cash: $2375377	What a waste of talent. I am not sure if this guy could have ever cut it but if he would have kept his nose clean and played all his eligible years in college he had a pretty damn good chance of being an NFL star. Sometimes you can take the kid out of the hood but you can't take the hood out of the kid.
Posts: 16,303