Stallworth to be charged in man's deathComment Email Print Share ESPN.com news services

MIAMI -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth will be charged Wednesday with killing a pedestrian last month while driving drunk in Miami, according to people familiar with the case.

ESPN's Michael Smith confirmed the story.

Two people said an arrest warrant charging the 28-year-old Stallworth with DUI manslaughter will be filed Wednesday in the March 14 accident that killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes. The people requested anonymity because the charges haven't been announced.





The charge carries a possible 15-year prison sentence. Stallworth's blood-alcohol level after the crash was .12, well above Florida's legal limit of .08, according to results of a blood test. Stallworth will also be charged with DUI, according to the people informed about the case.

Stallworth, who is expected to surrender in court Thursday, released a statement after the incident saying, "My family and I are grief-stricken over the tragic accident which occurred Saturday on Miami Beach where Mario Reyes sadly lost his life."

He returned to Cleveland and has been working out with the team, which Miami Beach police were aware of, according to Stallworth's attorney, Chris Lyons.

A Miami Beach police report said that Reyes was not in a crosswalk on busy MacArthur Causeway when he was struck by the Bentley luxury car driven by Stallworth. The construction crane operator was trying to catch a bus home after finishing his shift about 7:15 a.m.

The report also quoted Stallworth as saying he flashed his lights at Reyes in an attempted warning and that 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. He previously played for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Oh well, yet another dumb ass that could afford to be driven around if he chose to drink but instead chose to floss in his Bentley. Hope they throw the book at him.

SCNDLS said:

They should.

I'm interested to see how this case is handled. As much as i hate
the team he plays for, as far as i know, Dante has never been an
nfl player who's had a history of misconduct. It's sad and unfortunate
that someone was killed in this incident as he chose the wrong time
to be drinking. I know there are pedestrians out there who think they have the right of way no matter what and don't care about oncoming traffic. The reason i'm interested to see how this plays out is because of the rams leonard little who was involved in a drunken driving case where he killed someone but the fool went out and got charged with another DUI but fortunately no one was killed. I think somehow he got the charge dropped but is still allowed to play football which i don't understand while other players have been suspended for much less. That's why i'm very interested to see how this plays out.

SCNDLS said:

Yep - I have ZERO tolerance for this fucking shit. Whole families have been wiped out because some drunk-ass fool decides to get behind the wheel, turning his car into a two-ton bullet. When will these idiots learn?

to me, it sounds like he is remorseful. .12 is not comatose drunk. I am NOT sticking up for him, please don't think I am. He was drunk and drove and killed someone. He should pay for that. But the "throw the fucking book at him attitude should be reserved for assholes that have 3 prior DUI's or people that don't care.

He made a terrible mistake and unfortunately has to live with that his entire life, I'm sure that is hard.

Again, not sticking up for him, it's just different, you know?

JerseyKRS said:

I get your point, but nah, I can't cosign. It's not a "mistake" when driving drunk is known to result in death too frequently. There have been campaigns and PSAs about this shit for decades. So, I wouldn't classify this as a "mistake." He made a conscious choice to gamble that he wouldn't kill someone by driving drunk and he did. So, throw the book at his ass because this was 100% avoidable.

SCNDLS said:

I agree with you, even your last statement to a limited extent.

JerseyKRS said:

It's bad enough when regular folks do it, but these celebs can easily afford to hire a limo when they party, drink to their liver's content, and write the expense off. It makes NO damn sense to endanger their own and other's lives JUST so they can floss in the ride.

Have you seen the video of Lindsay Lohan's friend driving into Jack Nicholson's front gate a couple weeks ago??? After all her DUIs, this bitch should ALWAYS be in the back seat.

Stallworth expresses condolences in fatal crash

MIAMI (AP)—Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth surrendered in court Thursday to face charges that he was driving drunk when he struck and killed a pedestrian after a night of drinking at a ritzy Miami Beach hotel. He later was released and expressed condolences to the family of victim Mario Reyes.

Stallworth, 28, was led away in handcuffs after a short hearing before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy. He was released a few hours later on $200,000 bail and was planning to return to Cleveland, according to his lawyer.

In a brief statement outside jail, Stallworth said: “I just want to first extend my condolences to the Reyes family. My prayers are with them.” Stallworth also said he has “full confidence and faith” in the legal system.

Stallworth attorney Christopher Lyons said he would “vigorously defend this case” and that the defense team has already begun its own probe into the March 14 crash that killed 59-year-old Reyes. Lyons also expressed sympathy for the Reyes family.

“We want to stress there are no winners here. It was a tragic accident,” Lyons said.

Stallworth said little at the hearing. He was accompanied by his mother, Donna, in the courtroom, and was driven away in a silver Lexus after his release from jail.

If convicted of DUI manslaughter, Stallworth faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. The NFL and the Browns are reviewing the charges that also include a separate DUI count, and the Browns issued a statement saying the team is “disappointed” with Stallworth’s actions.

The judge set an April 23 arraignment date for Stallworth to enter a plea. Stallworth does not have to be present at that hearing.

A police affidavit said Stallworth’s blood-alcohol level after the crash was .126, well above Florida’s legal limit of .08. Stallworth had been drinking at a club in the swank Fontainebleau hotel in the hours before he got behind the wheel of his black 2005 Bentley GT and headed out on the MacArthur Causeway that links Miami and Miami Beach, authorities said.

Reyes, a construction crane operator just getting off work, was rushing across the causeway shortly after 7 a.m. to catch a bus home. He was not in the crosswalk when he was struck, and Stallworth told officers he flashed his lights and honked his horn in an attempt to warn Reyes.

Stallworth remained at the crash scene and told police “I’m the driver of that car” and “I hit the man lying in the road,” according to the affidavit. The car’s speed was estimated at 50 mph in a 40 mph zone.

Stallworth, who played in college for Tennessee, signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured much of the year. He previously played for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

“We are saddened by the circumstances that have taken place and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mario Reyes,” the Browns said in their statement. “We have been in communication with the commissioner, who is reviewing the situation under league policies, and we will withhold further comment at this time.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league would review the case under its conduct and substance abuse policies.

Stallworth will be prohibited from driving while on bail and not allowed to drink alcohol, according to court documents. He also must observe a midnight to 6 a.m. curfew and submit to random alcohol and drug testing through the NFL’s substance abuse program. He is allowed to travel between Cleveland and Miami and must seek permission for any additional travel.

SCNDLS said:

yeah, that is something I've said forever too. I would never drive anywhere. I would never buy my own drugs. Just let someone do that shit for you, you can AFFORD IT IDIOT.

I'm confused: He had time to flash his lights and honk his horn to warn dude, but couldn't hit his brakes or swerve to miss him??? And what could his defense be if he was 50% over the legal limit?
[Edited 4/2/09 15:06pm]

SCNDLS said:

Exactly...same applies to dumbass jocks like Plaxico who carry guns when hiring security would be the smarter thing to do. Unreal.....