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April 11, 2008
Jarrett pleads not guilty
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett entered a not guilty plea through his attorney today in Mecklenburg County District Court on charges of driving while impaired. Jarrett did not appear in court. His trial date was set for June 23.
Jarrett was arrested on March 11 at about 3 a.m. after a Mint Hill police officer pulled him after seeing him run a red light, according to records. The officer "smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Mr. Jarrett's person," according to a police press release.
Mint Hill police did not initially release Jarrett's blood alcohol level, but the arrest report showed that it was .12. The legal limit in North Carolina is .08.
Posted by Observer staff on April 11, 2008 at 10:39 AM | Permalink
Comments
If his lawyer can get it dismissed, do you think DJ will suffer any league or team sanctions?
Posted by: James | Apr 11, 2008 11:43:52 AM
Hah! You plead not guilty when you were clearly drunk? How does he plan to pull this one off. Pull the celebrity get out of jail free card? Give me a break. Give up your license for six months and take some effing responsibility for you actions. Dwayne, it's time to put on the big boy pants. You're an adult now.
Posted by: .04 over the limit | Apr 11, 2008 12:06:43 PM
Eric, if you're going to come on here and moralize (because we all know you'd just take your medicine were you arrested), you can at least try not to hide behind a pseudonym. Jarret is trying to minimize the effects of his little mistake (as any rational person would do.)
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 11, 2008 12:11:17 PM
I have no need to hide behind pseudonyms. Name was to make a point. I just find it funny when clearly guilty people plead not guilty to crimes. Charlotte doesn't take to nicely to drunk driving, so they usually don't make deals in these cases. If he wants to minimize the effects of his mistakes, he needs to own up to his mistake, take responsibility for his actions, and take positive steps moving foward. The NFL and the Panthers are not going to look at outcome of his "trial" as much as they will at the fact that he blew a .12. If I make a mistake, I man up and take resposibility.
Posted by: Eric | Apr 11, 2008 12:22:31 PM
Basically he's screwed and the league seems to like it when guys just fess up more than the run and hide technique. He'll be gone for prob. 2 games.
Posted by: randy | Apr 11, 2008 12:26:40 PM
Exactly
Posted by: Eric | Apr 11, 2008 12:31:09 PM
2 games? He'd probably be invisible anyway, whether he's there or not... he'd better improve big time this year or he's gonna get the boot.
Posted by: appgrad08 | Apr 11, 2008 12:36:58 PM
Ummm, you plead not guilty because that is the intelligent thing to do. Admitting guilt right off the back gives the judge authority to give him up to a maximum sentence. This case will probably be plea bargained to probation and a few hours of community service. With this being his first offense, I don't think the league would suspend him. Procton or anybody else have any insight on this?
Posted by: Mason | Apr 11, 2008 12:38:42 PM
in NC the DA's can't plea bargain on dui's anymore.
he will get off lighter by fighting it. and you never know there may be some technicality
Posted by: mr nice guy | Apr 11, 2008 12:51:11 PM
Little mistake??? Driving under the influence of alcohol is a little mistake?...right. Tell that to the parents whose kids get killed by some idiot like Dwayne Jarrett who not only could afford a cab, but if he'd prefer to ride in style he could afford a limo service to come pick his drunk ass up so he wouldn't endanger the lives of others who are on the road at the same time he is.
These athletes who get paid millions and act wrecklessly are nothing but narcissistic, selfish assholes who care nothing for other people. Hopefully, he will change that attitude because there are some pro-athletes who are grateful for their blessings.
Jarrett is going to wind up just like the rest of the other USC receivers that have come out under Pete Carroll....busts.
Posted by: Matt A. | Apr 11, 2008 12:54:16 PM
First time offenders usually lose their license for at least six months. Probation is usually not involved, especially if no accidents or injuries were involved. You are right though, as far as the league is concerned he probably won't be suspended. I never said he would be suspended anyway. All I said is he should own up to his actions. It's not a felony so I don't think it should necessarily effect his occupation. I just meant how a person handles their mistakes, big or little, reflects on their character. And right now, character is more important than ever in this league, as it should be. Especially when you had a poor rookie season and have three solid receivers ahead of you on the depth chart on a team that usually doesn't go more than three wide.
Posted by: Eric | Apr 11, 2008 12:55:12 PM
True that its called MONEY...People can pay there way out of most anything these days...Especially Pro Athletes. Although the Panthers may go ahead and fine him or suspend him as they did Bridges so that the NFL won't jump in and lay there own smackdown. All this said I still hope the guy pans out because he's still a Panther... and iv'e made mistakes in my life too.
Posted by: randy | Apr 11, 2008 1:00:31 PM
i see u dwayne! he gonna beat that case, racist pigs, he gonna have a break out year to wait and see
Posted by: james | Apr 11, 2008 1:03:30 PM
You're right James, that breathalyzer is a racist.
Posted by: LeeL | Apr 11, 2008 1:08:57 PM
How com race always comes up. That's the most ignorant argument I've heard yet. Jarret ran a red light, crossed the double yellow lines, and blew a .12, but through all that, the only reason he was pulled over was because he was african american? Give me a break. Remember, both Kerry Collins and Todd Sauerbrun had charlotte DUI's too. But I guess they were just exceptions to these damn racist laws about drinking and driving huh.
Posted by: Eric | Apr 11, 2008 1:12:28 PM
some points for that Eric guy, i blew a .197 while driving and got off the hook with a lawyer and theres the same law here .08 in VA and im definitely not famous so hell be ok.
Posted by: ZERO TOLERANCE | Apr 11, 2008 1:13:57 PM
Come on now Procton. It's only a little mistake because someones loved one was not going through the intersection when he ran the red light. I've had a little to much to drink and gotten behind the wheel too. That does'nt make it right or minimal. Ask someone who has lost a loved one due to "minimal mistakes" and I'm sure they would disagree. If I'm out and have had too much to drink,I call a cab. Why can't someone who has a couple mil in the bank hire a limo service to drive him around if he will be drinking? James you are a moron!! It was those racist pigs that drank to much and ran stoplights.How ignorant can a person be?
Posted by: wowo | Apr 11, 2008 1:14:42 PM
Wait, Matt...Jarrett killed someone? His lawyers must be pretty good to have covered that up. P.S.: Sarcasm is "stating the opposite of an intended meaning especially in order to sneeringly, slyly, jest or mock a person, situation or thing." It's very commonly used these days.
As for the NFL response, it'll be interesting. Jared Allen had an initial four-game suspension changed to two games after having gotten charged twice with DUI in four months (after having ANOTHER one four years earlier.) With that case for comparison, I can't see how the league could suspend Jarrett for more than one game, although Richardson may have something to say before the league ever gets involved, as Randy suggested.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 11, 2008 1:19:49 PM
2005 - Denver Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun pleaded guilty in Charlotte, NC to driving while impaired and was placed on a year's unsupervised probation and fined $100. Mecklenburg County District Court Judge Todd Owens also ordered Sauerbrun not to drive in North Carolina for 30 days.
While playing for the Carolina Panthers, Sauerbrun was arrested in December near downtown Charlotte. A police spokeswoman said he also was charged with speeding and driving while his license was revoked.
Posted by: Sauerbrun | Apr 11, 2008 1:25:24 PM
some points for that Eric guy, i blew a .197 while driving and got off the hook with a lawyer and theres the same law here .08 in VA and im definitely not famous so hell be ok.
ZERO TOLERANCE
No, you're not famous. But thanks for sharing with the rest of that you're a complete idiot behind the wheel. Be sure to let us know what you drive so we can pull over when we see you.
Posted by: Eric | Apr 11, 2008 1:26:01 PM
New York Giants quarterback Kerry Collins was convicted Monday of driving while impaired and was ordered to pay $186 and surrender his driving privileges for one month. Collins avoided further punishment for the conviction because he already has undergone alcohol treatment that was mandated by the NFL because of his Nov. 2 arrest in Charlotte.
Collins did not attend Monday's hearing in Mecklenburg Country District Court, but his lawyer, George Laughrun, entered a no contest plea on his behalf.
Posted by: Kerry Collins | Apr 11, 2008 1:26:48 PM
Let chip in and help Dwayne Jarrett with transportation for 30 days. He can pay the $180 fine himself.
Posted by: Jarrett | Apr 11, 2008 1:29:05 PM
Maybe his lawyer couldnt read the state law book just like DJ couldnt read the Panther playbook. The problem isnt with Jarrett, the problem is with the justice system. Think about it. 1000+ can say the dude was drunk but the only 1 person whose opinion accounts is the Judges'.
Posted by: Brandon | Apr 11, 2008 1:50:19 PM
Did you learn the word sarcasm at Chapel Hill Michael before you dropped out
Posted by: Jay | Apr 11, 2008 2:06:14 PM
It's ok everyone. Michael doesn't have much to say when it comes to arguing with people who have actual intelligence.
Posted by: Eric | Apr 11, 2008 2:30:01 PM
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