Although the Steelers and Eagles dominate Pennsylvania’s professional football landscape, a player out west made headlines of his own on Sunday off the field. At about 6:27 p.m. on Sept. 16, calls were made to 911 about a vehicle that had run into mailboxes, trash cans and a bus stop sign in Simi Valley. The vehicle did not stop after colliding into those objects.
The driver was a practice squad player for the Rams who plays on the offensive line. His vehicle was stopped on El Monte Drive near El Lado Drive, and the player was asked to take a Breathalyzer. According to the test, he had a blood alcohol content of .17 percent, which is higher than the .08 legal limit in California. He was charged with hit-and-run with property damage and suspicion of DUI. Police took the man into custody and brought him to East County Jail.
Individuals who are charged with a crime such as drunk driving could be sent to jail or prison. A fine or a drivers license suspension could also be part of a sentence if a defendant is convicted on the charge. Simply being charged with DUI could also create problems for a public figure’s professional image. Therefore, it may be worthwhile to consult with an attorney to learn how to defend against the charge in court.
An attorney may be able to negotiate a plea or have the charge dropped entirely. This might happen if evidence is suppressed or if witness testimony is deemed to not be credible. It may be possible to call in question a police report or the reason cited for conducting a traffic stop. If a case goes to trial, casting doubt on evidence may lead to an individual being acquitted.
