Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser.
DUI manslaughter charges are expected to be filed Wednesday afternoon against Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, alleging the football player was driving drunk last month when he struck and killed a pedestrian on Miami Beach, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.
Blood tests revealed Stallworth had a blood alcohol level of .12 after the 7 a.m. crash, a second source with knowledge of the investigation told The Miami Herald.
Arrangements have been made for Stallworth to surrender to authorities, the source said.
Police have been investigating Stallworth since March 14, when police responded to the scene of a fatal car crash at the southeast end of the MacArthur Causeway in Miami Beach.
Police said Stallworth was driving a Bentley east on the MacArthur
Causeway about 7 a.m. and struck Mario Reyes, 59, who was getting off work and crossing the street to get to a bus stop.
A video obtained by The Miami Herald shows Stallworth, dressed in jeans and a shirt, being given a sobriety test by two Miami Beach police officers.
Cont'd ...
Cleveland Browns receiver Dont? Stallworth charged with DUI manslaughter in Florida
Browns player accused of DUI manslaughter
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter
Browns wide receiver Dont? Stallworth was charged Wednesday afternoon with DUI manslaughter by prosecutors in Florida, the Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney said.
Prosecutors said the football player was driving drunk at 7:17 a.m. March 14 when he struck and killed pedestrian Mario Reyes, 59, in Miami Beach. The toxicology report showed that Stallworth's blood-alcohol level was .126, which is above Florida's legal limit of 0.08.
Stallworth, 28, is expected to surrender this morning in front of Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy and then be re leased on bond, which will be set at $200,000. He is expected to return to Cleveland to continue to work out in the Browns' off-season program. His arraignment is April 23.
DUI manslaughter is a second-degree felony that carries a minimum of four years to a maximum of 15 years in prison in a conviction.
More
Report: Cleveland Browns' Donte Stallworth was already in substance abuse progam
by Mary Kay Cabot / Plain Dealer Reporter
Thursday April 02, 2009, 10:13 PM
UPDATED: 10:15 p.m.
CLEVELAND -- Browns receiver Donte Stallworth was already in the NFL's substance abuse program before being charged with DUI manslaughter according to a report, meaning he'll most likely face stiffer sanctions from the NFL if convicted.
In March of 2007, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Stallworth was a participant in the league's substance abuse program and faced a suspension if he violated the conditions again.
Asked about the report a week later when he signed with the Patriots, Stallworth told the Associated Press, "All that stuff is in the past. There was a situation a couple years ago. There's nothing now that's going on that will affect me preparing for helping this team."
Stallworth, 28, surrendered in a Miami courtroom Thursday morning on the DUI manslaughter charges in connection with the death of pedestrian Mario Reyes, 59. He made a brief appearance in front of Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy before being led away in handcuffs for booking. He was released a few hours later on $200,000 bail.
Holding his mother Donna's hand outside the Miami-Dade county jail around noon, Stallworth told a group of reporters and cameras, "I just want to extend my condolences to the Reyes family. My prayers are with them. I have full confidence and faith in the legal process."
The Inquirer report from 2007 did not specify why Stallworth was entered into the NFL's substance abuse program or what stage he was in. A player in Stage Two faces at least a four-game suspension if he violates the conditions of his program. A player in Stage Three faces a one-year suspension.
Players in Stage Two can rotate out of the program after two years if they've been compliant, but any prior history of substance abuse is a factor in determining NFL fines and suspensions.
For comparison's sake, Rams defensive end Leonard Little was suspended eight games by the NFL in 1999 after killing a 47-year old woman while he was driving drunk. It's not known if he was in the NFL's program before the conviction.
Continued
Bucks21;1483600; said:Watching the Tribe on ESPN and the ticker just said Stallworth has reached a plea deal in his case. Curious to see what it is, have to expect some jail time.
Bucklion;1483764; said:Well they said the sentence could be 4-15 on the news this morning, but that they expect him to do "significantly less" than that. Have to wonder, a guy with a .126 kills somebody and gets, oh, probably 1-3...not sure about that one.
itownbuckeye;1483767; said:Did Leonard Little serve any jail time?
Browns' Stallworth reaches settlement with pedestrian's family
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:09 AM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AP
Donte Stallworth makes a brief appearance in court in April.MIAMI -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and the family of the pedestrian he is charged with hitting and killing with his car have reached a financial agreement to avoid a lawsuit.
A person close to the settlement negotiations today told the Associated Press that the amount of the agreement was confidential. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he or she was not authorized to talk about the settlement.
Attorneys say Stallworth will plead guilty today in Miami to DUI manslaughter in the death of Mario Reyes.
Continued
itownbuckeye;1483767; said:Did Leonard Little serve any jail time?
tsteele316;1483770; said:nada. and he didn't more than a slap on the wrist when he got a DUI after his vehicular homicide.
LitlBuck;1483777; said:I don't know but I think this might help in the possibility of getting a reduced sentence. His attorneys do say that he is hopeful of playing professional footfall again.
link
Oh, I agree with you, I think that Stallworth should do some time for killing a person. I am sure that the family probably agreed to a reduced sentence because of the financial award but that does not correct the wrong that Stallworth did.Bucklion;1483791; said:Yes the DA said this helped, and I imagine it should. That's why I said I "wasn't sure" about the deal he was getting instead of outright condemning it, because I think he has cooperated and taken responsibility for his actions. If the family is OK with it, it's hard for me to pass too much judgement on it. It doesn't bring the poor guy back from the dead, however.