MuthaFunka said:

It was stated in this article:


WR Stallworth pleads guilty, gets 30 days in jail
By CURT ANDERSON, AP Legal Affairs Writer
Jun 16, 9:49 pm EDT

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth(notes) began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Florida, a punishment made possible by his cooperation with investigators and the fervent wish by the victim’s family to put the matter behind them.

Stallworth, 28, received the sentence after pleading guilty to a DUI manslaughter charge for striking and killing Mario Reyes while driving drunk March 14 in his black 2005 Bentley. The athlete also reached a confidential financial settlement with the family of the 59-year-old construction worker.

Without the plea deal, the DUI manslaughter conviction could have netted Stallworth 15 years in prison. After his release from jail, he must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation. The house arrest provisions will allow him to resume his football career, his attorney said.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is reviewing the matter for possible disciplinary action. Stallworth could face suspension without pay for some games this year.

Leonard Little(notes) of the Rams pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after he hit and killed a woman while driving drunk in 1998 and served an eight-game suspension, though the punishment was doled out when the league was a bit more lenient.

The Browns also said they were evaluating the situation, saying they were very conscious of the seriousness of the charges to which Stallworth pleaded guilty.

Stallworth’s attorney, Christopher Lyons, said the financial settlement was only one factor in the plea agreement. He noted that Stallworth stopped immediately after the accident, called 911 and submitted to roadside alcohol testing despite spending most of the night drinking at a swanky Miami Beach hotel.

“He acted like a man", Lyons said. "He remained at the scene. He cooperated fully."

Stallworth told Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy that he hopes to get involved in drunken driving education programs.

“I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy", said Stallworth, who was accompanied at the hearing by his parents, siblings and other supporters. "I will bear this burden for the rest of my life."

Stallworth also must undergo drug and alcohol testing, will have a lifetime driver’s license suspension and must perform 1,000 hours of community service. Lyons said after five years, Stallworth could win approval for limited driving such as for employment.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle echoed Lyons in citing Stallworth’s lack of previous criminal record, cooperation and willingness to accept responsibility as factors in the plea deal. Rundle also said the Reyes family, particularly the victim’s 15-year-old daughter, wanted the case resolved to avoid any more pain.

“For all of these reasons, a just resolution of this case has been reached", Rundle said.

None of the Reyes family attended the hearing. Their attorney, Rodolfo Suarez, read a statement saying the family wants to bring closure to this emotional and tragic event. Suarez did not respond to an email seeking comment.

After a night drinking at a bar in Miami Beach’s Fountainebleau hotel, police said Stallworth hit Reyes, a construction crane operator who was rushing to catch a bus after finishing his shift around 7:15 a.m. Stallworth told police he flashed his lights in an attempt to warn Reyes, who was not in a crosswalk when he was struck.

Stallworth had a blood-alcohol level of .126 after the crash, well above Florida’s .08 limit. Stallworth stopped after the crash and immediately told officers he had hit Reyes. Police estimated 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. The California native and University of Tennessee college star has also played in the NFL for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

The night before the crash, Stallworth earned a $4.5 million roster bonus from the Browns.

Post #28

You are talking FEDERAL felony convictions. They can't vote in another state because FEDERAL law prohibits it. But a Florida convict can establish residency elsewhere and depending on the laws of that state, can vote if there only felony conviction is at the state level.

SUPRMAN said:

Well I know that! hahahahaha!

My particular situation was I was at a red light, there were two lanes and I had a truck next to me. The light turned green and then all of a sudden two people came out of nowhere crossing the street...they were in front of the truck while it changed and I could not see them. I started to go and then I saw them walking out in front of me and came to a screeching hault. Douchebags proceeded to yell at me and tell me they had the right of way...i was so pissed!

SUPRMAN said:

But in MOST states, a felon can't vote while they're on probation or on parole.

MuthaFunka said:

For that state only.
If he moved to Georgia and established residency to vote, he is not on probation or parole with the state of Georgia, just the state of Florida.
There is no reason for Georgia or the Federal government to bar him from voting just because the state of Florida does.

SUPRMAN said:

Wrong. The felon has to be off probation/parole period. It's federal punishment.

MuthaFunka said:

No
You can be a felon at the state and/or Federal level.
Being on state felony probation does not mean you are on Federal felony probation.
Don't you remember last year when they were urging people who had felony convictions to check to see if they could vote?
They may be able to vote on the Federal but not state level or vice versa.



"Stallworth told Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy that he hopes to get involved in drunken driving education programs. "

This case is NOT in Federal Court. It's state court. He's only barred from voting in Florida unless other states prohibit him from voting until he finishes his parole/probation. Doubtful, but such laws could exist.
[Edited 6/18/09 12:49pm]

MuthaFunka said:

For that state only.
If he moved to Georgia and established residency to vote, he is not on probation or parole with the state of Georgia, just the state of Florida.
There is no reason for Georgia or the Federal government to bar him from voting just because the state of Florida does.

SUPRMAN said:

Ummmm, that's not true. If someone is on parole in Florida and moves to Georgia their parole supervision is transfered to the state of Georgia and they continue living under all of the same parole restrictions as if they were in Florida. After the parole ends then they'd be eligible to vote again in whichever state they reside in. Anyone on parole has to ask permission to leave the state for any reason or else a warrant is issued for their arrest the first time they miss a parole appointment.

SUPRMAN said:

Ummmm, that's not true. If someone is on parole in Florida and moves to Georgia their parole supervision is transfered to the state of Georgia and they continue living under all of the same parole restrictions as if they were in Florida. After the parole ends then they'd be eligible to vote again in whichever state they reside in. Anyone on parole has to ask permission to leave the state for any reason or else a warrant is issued for their arrest the first time they miss a parole appointment.

SCNDLS said:

State parole?
This is not a Federal case.

SUPRMAN said:

Ummmm, that's not true. If someone is on parole in Florida and moves to Georgia their parole supervision is transfered to the state of Georgia and they continue living under all of the same parole restrictions as if they were in Florida. After the parole ends then they'd be eligible to vote again in whichever state they reside in. Anyone on parole has to ask permission to leave the state for any reason or else a warrant is issued for their arrest the first time they miss a parole appointment.

SCNDLS said:

I checked.
You are more correct than I was. There is a system set up to allow states to transfer probation and parole. I guess if the receiving state doesn't agree then the parolee/probationer can't move.

http://www.interstatecompact.org/

SCNDLS said:

I checked.
You are more correct than I was. There is a system set up to allow states to transfer probation and parole. I guess if the receiving state doesn't agree then the parolee/probationer can't move.

http://www.interstatecompact.org/

SUPRMAN said:

@ "more correct".

MuthaFunka said:

I didn't know correctness was a continuum silly me thought it was either/or, right/wrong.

MuthaFunka said:

I didn't know correctness was a continuum silly me thought it was either/or, right/wrong.

SCNDLS said:

Exactly.

SCNDLS said:

I was wrong. You were right.

SUPRMAN said:

Oh my GAWD.

SCNDLS said:

Cherish the fuck outta that shit!

MuthaFunka said:

I already bookmarked it.

psychodelicide said:

Ok, so for "work-related" driving only. Thanks.

SCNDLS said:

Cherish the fuck outta that shit!

MuthaFunka said:

30 days?! People are getting the death penalty here in Cali!

I read this morning that the commish will lay the smackdown on Stallworth, suspending him for the entire 2009 season.