Stallworth gets 30 days' jail in fatality

[BAKAJ]

Donte Stallworth of Cleveland Browns reaches financial agreement with family of victim Mario Reyes - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4262751)

Kinda sad that he only got 30 days for killing someone... and while he was drunk... sad sad

[StevenSD]

Sad sad???

Was it Stallworths fault the guy illegally jumped infront of his car to try to catch a bus?

No.

Stallworth was breaking the law for driving drunk, unfortunetly for him he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He did everything the police asked him to do, no resenting arrest, full cooperation. Stallworth did everything he could do that was right after that incident, made up with the family as best as possible, now he has to do his time, pay his fines and deal with taking a life from another human being.

Now, if he tried to get away with a hit and run, or hell plead a not guilty, then yeah I would agree with you.

[TexecutedInTampa]

Sad sad???

Was it Stallworths fault the guy illegally jumped infront of his car to try to catch a bus?

No.

Stallworth was breaking the law for driving drunk, unfortunetly for him he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He did everything the police asked him to do, no resenting arrest, full cooperation. Stallworth did everything he could do that was right after that incident, made up with the family as best as possible, now he has to do his time, pay his fines and deal with taking a life from another human being.

Now, if he tried to get away with a hit and run, or hell plead a not guilty, then yeah I would agree with you.

It's a terrible thing, and I feel for the family....but I can't remember ever seeing a pro athlete stand up and take the consequences like Stallworth has. It doesn't bring back Mr Reyes, but it's still to Stallworth's credit.

[StevenSD]

the whole situation was bad,

stallworth broke the law

mr reyes brokes the law

it was a no win situation no matter what the punishment stallworth received IMO, but honestly how he has gone about everything since, im glad he didnt get the max sentence, he knew he was wrong, he knew everything that he did, and he still has to deal with the fact that he took someone else life.... i'm kind of glad i'm not in his shoes...

[BAKAJ]

I dont care that the guy was at wrong place... Driving frunk is driving drunk if your over the limit and you kill someone then its your fault... Put it this way if he wasent a high paid pro player then he would of got a lot worse...

Getting 30 days in jail for running someone over is a joke!

[StevenSD]

I dont care that the guy was at wrong place... Driving frunk is driving drunk if your over the limit and you kill someone then its your fault... Put it this way if he wasent a high paid pro player then he would of got a lot worse...

Getting 30 days in jail for running someone over is a joke!

hhaha if he wasnt a pro athlete then he wouldve gotten a lot worst?

please, look at it this way:

What does the DA have on Stallworth? He killed a man jay-walking. Okay, so the man jay-walking, even dead, is at no fault in this? Just because he's dead means that he isnt partially to blame? Here's what a lawyer friend of mine said on another board:


I've never been involved in these kinds of negotiations and circumstances, but here is my understanding:

- There was serious doubt as to whether the prosecution could get the manslaughter DUI conviction to stick with a jury verdict because the victim was jaywalking. I don't have the law in front of me, but my understanding of the gist of it is that if the driver isn't the sole cause of the accident, the driver would be guilty of a lesser charge.

- Stallworth was remorseful and willing to plead guilty to the charge with a sentencing recommendation at far less than the statutory length of time.

- The victim's family wanted to have this resolved quickly. The prosecution will generally give weight to the relatives of the victim's wishes. Just guessing, but the millions of dollars that Stallworth will be willingly and quickly paying them probably goes a long way towards easing their pain.

- The thing that is uncertain and seems to be a twisting of the law is the way that the authorities are apparently viewing the legal standard for the penal code. From what I've read from Florio, his view is that the DA is making a distinction between a "conviction" that can be a 15 year sentence and a "plea" of guilty where the sentence doesn't need to be close to that mark. I'm not sure how often this is done in Florida and how big of an exception this case is to the norm.

A general policy that runs throughout the legal system is judicial economy. If the guilty party serves close to the amount of time for the charge that the DA's office feels confident of getting a conviction, the victim's next of kin is OK with it and the guilty party shows remorse on a first-time offense, the savings of the cost of the entire legal proceedings (including the trial) is another factor in accepting the defendant's plea.

It sucks, but with the evidence the prosecution had available, this was probably close to the best result that the DA could have obtained at trial, so they took it to get it over with and stop the money drain.

Also, if it wasn't Stallworth that hit the man, it would've been someone else (most likely sober too that early in the morning) and none of us wouldve heard about it...

And also, what if Stallworth was sober and still killed that man? What's your opinion of that?

The crime for drinking and driving isn't 3 - 7 years in prision. Depending on how many priors, it could just be a fine with a temporary suspension of your licenses, that is what Stallworth would've orginally dealt with if Reyes wasn't illegally crossing the street (most likely didnt look both ways either)

[BAKAJ]

So if he was driving and he killed someone from your family you would be okay saying, it wasent the alcohol fault it was the person walking across the street trying to catch a bus to work... Its kinda funny how he did not even hit the breaks when he hit the person I wonder why is that maybe because the alcohol actually had some effect on it!

He was over the limit that what counts it dosent matter where the person was crossing because it was his fault for drinking and then getting into a car...

Vick gets almost 2 years and Stallworth gets 30 dats ....

[StevenSD]

So if he was driving and he killed someone from your family you would be okay saying, it wasent the alcohol fault it was the person walking across the street trying to catch a bus to work... Its kinda funny how he did not even hit the breaks when he hit the person I wonder why is that maybe because the alcohol actually had some effect on it!

If someone in my family illegally crossed the street and got killed, I honestly COULD NOT hold the driver 100% responsible. It's my honest belief. How do you know Stallworth didn't even hit the brakes? Hell, how do you know if the guy didn't just start running across the street (illegally) right before Dante's car? You weren't there, and unless there's a witness saying Dante didn't hit the breaks or some kind of report, I'm not going to believe it. And even at that, it WOULD be hard, sober or not, to break that suddenly if someone just jumped in front of your car. Don't be ignorant.


He was over the limit that what counts it dosent matter where the person was crossing because it was his fault for drinking and then getting into a car...

Again, a DUI conviction holds no jail time, is usually just under two grand and a temporary license suspension. It wasn't the guys fault Dante was drunk and driving, just like it wasn't Dante's fault the guy decided to illegally cross the road (again most likely not even checking if it's okay, it IS a major road that this happened on too) And yes it does matter where the person was crossing, there is jaywalking laws FOR a reason (to prevent something like this).


Vick gets almost 2 years and Stallworth gets 30 dats ....

Two completely different cases, why would you even try to compare them?


Hell, just because OJ got off doesn't mean every pro athlete or celebrity gets off easy too, I don't understand why that's a popular belief.

[Lor2435]

i very much doubt that charges would have been filed had Stallworth been sober.

[Texecutioner]

So if he was driving and he killed someone from your family you would be okay saying, it wasent the alcohol fault it was the person walking across the street trying to catch a bus to work... Its kinda funny how he did not even hit the breaks when he hit the person I wonder why is that maybe because the alcohol actually had some effect on it!

He was over the limit that what counts it dosent matter where the person was crossing because it was his fault for drinking and then getting into a car...

Vick gets almost 2 years and Stallworth gets 30 dats ....

The Vick case and the Stallworth case have absolutely nothing to do with the other. Very silly example.

[Ravenatic20]

I think Stallworth got off easy, but he gets more than 'just 30 days'. He also got 2 years house arrest, 10 years probation and a life time driving ban.

Comparing it to the Vick case is very fair. Vick killed dogs, and got almost two years. Stallworth kills a human and gets 30 days.

The only reason Stallworth didn't get more time was because they couldn't prove if the pedestrian was in a cross walk or not. The pedestrian has no right jay-walking and if he was Stallworth is 'off the hook'. Stallworth did get off the hook because they couldn't prove where the pedestrian was. Inocent until proven guilty.

[Lor2435]

Vick and Stallworth are very different and comparisons are useless.

A Leonard Little comparison is much closer...

Little blew a .19, was entirely at fault and got 90 days in jail 4 years probation and 1000 hours community service... and then he got nailed again for a DUI in 2004. That's the guy who got off way to easy.

[Texecutioner]

I think Stallworth got off easy, but he gets more than 'just 30 days'. He also got 2 years house arrest, 10 years probation and a life time driving ban.

Comparing it to the Vick case is very fair. Vick killed dogs, and got almost two years. Stallworth kills a human and gets 30 days.



The only reason people like you are even trying to compare these guys are because they are both NFL football players. Other than that, they have absolutely nothing in common with each other's case. There isn't even one remote similarity. It's by the far the most asinine and stupid comparison that could be made.

If that's the case then the Stallworth case could be compared to any case in the history of criminals. They are different crimes, with way different dynamics, different types of sentences, different everything.

[BAKAJ]

They are different? Yea they are because one got 30 days for killing a person other got 2 years for killing dogs, actually there is no proof that Vick actually killed dogs because his bother or cousin actually ran it, only thing on vick was that it was on his property... It just shows hows stupiud the court system is...

Also I bet Burress will get close to 30 days in jail because of the gun case...

You can spin it anyway you want Stallworth was drinking and got into a car drunk... thats crime right there and on top of that he ran someone over I dont get how people dont see that...

[Ravenatic20]

Also I bet Burress will get close to 30 days in jail because of the gun case...

No, I bet Burress gets 0 days in jail.

[BigBenCan7]

I actually completely agree with BAKAJ. The Vick and Stallworth cases may not be the same, but that is only because the crime that Stallworth committed was much more serious than the one Vick committed.

It really doesn't matter to me if the guy was jaywalking. As a driver of a car, you are responsible for all pedestrians in the street, not just the ones in crosswalks.

And Steven, football players get off in court cases just about every single time they are on trial. This is not something that is based just on OJ Simpson, look at Leonard Little, James Harrison, Brandon Marshall, Chris Henry, Pac Man Jones, Stallworth...and those are all just off the top of my head.

[Texecutioner]

They are different? Yea they are because one got 30 days for killing a person other got 2 years for killing dogs, actually there is no proof that Vick actually killed dogs because his bother or cousin actually ran it, only thing on vick was that it was on his property... It just shows hows stupiud the court system is...

Do you honestly think that a guy who buys a property and funds an operation and takes part in it, that there isn't any evidence that he took part in it? How the hell do you think he was prosecuted then? And are you that hard headed that you completely ignore the fact that his own father came out publically and said that Vick had been fighting and torturing dogs since he was in HS and college? You're arguing against something that even HE HIMSELF ADMITTED TO TAKING PART IN!


Also I bet Burress will get close to 30 days in jail because of the gun case...

Again, what the hell does that have to do with Stallworth's case or Vick's case? None of these cases have anything to do with Vick's case or each others.


You can spin it anyway you want Stallworth was drinking and got into a car drunk... thats crime right there and on top of that he ran someone over I dont get how people dont see that...

YOu want to talk about the Stallworth case, then talk about the Stallworth case. If you want to talk about Vick or the Burress case then start another thread.

[StevenSD]

I actually completely agree with BAKAJ. The Vick and Stallworth cases may not be the same, but that is only because the crime that Stallworth committed was much more serious than the one Vick committed.

It really doesn't matter to me if the guy was jaywalking. As a driver of a car, you are responsible for all pedestrians in the street, not just the ones in crosswalks.

And Steven, football players get off in court cases just about every single time they are on trial. This is not something that is based just on OJ Simpson, look at Leonard Little, James Harrison, Brandon Marshall, Chris Henry, Pac Man Jones, Stallworth...and those are all just off the top of my head.

Lol, I love how everyone wants to say 'it doesn't matter to me if he was jaywalking'

it's funny because to the law and court, it DOES matter.

Little I agree, got away, but his case is nothing like Stallworths. Stallworth called 911, admitted to tests and everything, full co-operation and full responsibility. See that stuff matters to the court as well. And again, the guy jumped in front of Stallworth's car according to witnesses, if someone suddenly jumped in front of you and you're going around or a little above the speed limit of a busy road it will be hard to stop that suddenly to not hurt someone, so again this could've happened to Stallworth even if he was SOBER, the prosecution understood this, why can't everyone else?

[Who Dey]

Goodell has suspended Stallworth indefinitely- without pay.
Commissioner Goodell suspends Browns' Stallworth indefinitely (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d810e391f&template=without-video&confirm=true)

[BigBenCan7]

if someone suddenly jumped in front of you and you're going around or a little above the speed limit of a busy road it will be hard to stop that suddenly to not hurt someone

Yeah, and it makes it a whole lot harder when you're drunk.

Just because he cooperated does not mean that he should get off easier for killing someone.

[Texecutioner]

Lol, I love how everyone wants to say 'it doesn't matter to me if he was jaywalking'

it's funny because to the law and court, it DOES matter.

Little I agree, got away, but his case is nothing like Stallworths. Stallworth called 911, admitted to tests and everything, full co-operation and full responsibility. See that stuff matters to the court as well. And again, the guy jumped in front of Stallworth's car according to witnesses, if someone suddenly jumped in front of you and you're going around or a little above the speed limit of a busy road it will be hard to stop that suddenly to not hurt someone, so again this could've happened to Stallworth even if he was SOBER, the prosecution understood this, why can't everyone else?

You're basically wasting your time at this point. A lot of times when people haven't ever had a situation like this before, they're incapable of understanding reason and actually analyzing and putting a deep thought process into something like this. All they care about is the fact that he had alcohol in his system so they're blood thirsty and want to see the guy hung from a rope.

It doesn't matter that it could have happened to you or I driving along without any alcohol, they don't even want to consider that part. I know that I've almost hit people in the road plenty of times from dump people jumping in the way when I'm driving. I know that I myself have been that dumb person who almost got myself hit by a car more than once and had I gotten hit it wouldn't have been the driver's fault drunk or not.

The court made the right ruling here.

[StevenSD]

You're basically wasting your time at this point. A lot of times when people haven't ever had a situation like this before, they're incapable of understanding reason and actually analyzing and putting a deep thought process into something like this. All they care about is the fact that he had alcohol in his system so they're blood thirsty and want to see the guy hung from a rope.

It doesn't matter that it could have happened to you or I driving along without any alcohol, they don't even want to consider that part. I know that I've almost hit people in the road plenty of times from dump people jumping in the way when I'm driving. I know that I myself have been that dumb person who almost got myself hit by a car more than once and had I gotten hit it wouldn't have been the driver's fault drunk or not.

The court made the right ruling here.

Tex it amazes me how we can almost see everything eye to eye EXCEPT for football :confused:

[Texecutioner]

Tex it amazes me how we can almost see everything eye to eye EXCEPT for football :confused:

Well that and basketball. (See your sig below. :D)

Eh, we agree every now and then with football. You just remember the disagreements a lot more than you do the times we agree because typically when you disagree with me in football, it's going to be a war of points back and forth. ;) When we agree, it's just a quick agreement and nothing much else to say.

I think that lately we both have agreed a lot regarding Brandon Marshall. ;)

[StevenSD]

Yeah, and it makes it a whole lot harder when you're drunk.

Just because he cooperated does not mean that he should get off easier for killing someone.

? So you're saying because that person jay walked Stallworth deserves more punishment?

[Texecutioner]

? So you're saying because that person jay walked Stallworth deserves more punishment?

You might want to ask him "Did Stallworth kill the guy, or did the guy jay walking irresponsibly in front of a moving vehicle accidentally kill himself by doing that?"

If I jump in front of a moving vehicle that doesn't have time to stop or slow down, it's hard to call the driver a killer.

[BigBenCan7]

? So you're saying because that person jay walked Stallworth deserves more punishment?

No, I'm saying that because Stallworth was drunk he deserves more punishment.

[StevenSD]

No, I'm saying that because Stallworth was drunk he deserves more punishment.

A DUI does not require jail time

[BigBenCan7]

A DUI does not require jail time

Maybe, but a DUI manslaughter certainly does, IMO.

[StevenSD]

Maybe, but a DUI manslaughter certainly does, IMO.

It WASN'T Stallworth's FAULT

That's the whole point, whether you want to admit it or not, Mr Reyes was at the same risk at dying wether a drunk OR sober driver hit him. The DA understood that, he understood a jury would point that out for Stallworth's credit, thus the 30 days in Dade County prision, PLUS 2 years house arrest and 8 years probation.

Are you saying that Stallworth should have a life sentence for a DUI? :rolleyes:

[Whit Prowdy]

It WASN'T Stallworth's FAULT

That's the whole point, whether you want to admit it or not, Mr Reyes was at the same risk at dying wether a drunk OR sober driver hit him. The DA understood that, he understood a jury would point that out for Stallworth's credit, thus the 30 days in Dade County prision, PLUS 2 years house arrest and 8 years probation.

Are you saying that Stallworth should have a life sentence for a DUI? :rolleyes:

Well that's why there's manslaughter, to avoid the life sentence in cases where someone is killed, without a malicious intent.

Let's also look at what Stallworth is facing beyond his 30-day jail sentence.


After jail, Stallworth must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation. The house arrest provisions would allow him to play.

Stallworth must undergo drug and alcohol testing. His driver’s license was suspended for life and he must perform 1,000 hours of community service.

Browns WR Stallworth suspended indefinitely by NFL - NFL - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AiaDY8N4t8jwmXI1ubi4sfA5nYcB?slug=ap-browns-stallworthsuspended&prov=ap&type=lgns)

Not for nothing, but once he's out of jail he's still not out of the woods. And imagine having your driver's license suspended for life, never to get it back. Not in 10, 30, 50+ years. That's a fairly major league lack of freedom there.

[Texecutioner]

Well that's why there's manslaughter, to avoid the life sentence in cases where someone is killed, without a malicious intent.

Let's also look at what Stallworth is facing beyond his 30-day jail sentence.



Browns WR Stallworth suspended indefinitely by NFL - NFL - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AiaDY8N4t8jwmXI1ubi4sfA5nYcB?slug=ap-browns-stallworthsuspended&prov=ap&type=lgns)

Not for nothing, but once he's out of jail he's still not out of the woods. And imagine having your driver's license suspended for life, never to get it back. Not in 10, 30, 50+ years. That's a fairly major league lack of freedom there.

I'll bet you that he gets his driver's license back eventually.

All that will take after a few years is for him to hire a lawyer to fight that and he'll eventually get it back.

[StevenSD]

I'll bet you that he gets his driver's license back eventually.

All that will take after a few years is for him to hire a lawyer to fight that and he'll eventually get it back.

That'll probably happen when his probation is up.

Either that or he can apply for a restricted license, which will only allow him to drive to work, and his DUI programs (if he has any that he needs to complete)

[pentekno2]

I think Stallworth got off easy, but he gets more than 'just 30 days'. He also got 2 years house arrest, 10 years probation and a life time driving ban.

Comparing it to the Vick case is very fair. Vick killed dogs, and got almost two years. Stallworth kills a human and gets 30 days.



They didn't come down on Vick because he killed dogs. That was what was used to basically turn everybody against him. Running an illegal gambling operation on the other hand? Now, yeah, the Federal government is going to go after you if they suspect you of doing so. Thats what they were really after.

[Ball_Hawks]

Stallworth got about the right punishment. He done everything they asked of him. He didnt lie to them, he took the guilty plead. I think it was great they made it so he cant drive again. I think every DUI should have a 5 years to life suspention on the drivers licence.

[Texecutioner]

Stallworth got about the right punishment. He done everything they asked of him. He didnt lie to them, he took the guilty plead. I think it was great they made it so he cant drive again. I think every DUI should have a 5 years to life suspention on the drivers licence.

That's way to much.

[Ball_Hawks]

That's way to much.
Being stupid and driving under the influence is way to much. They have to make things serious so people will stop being stupid. They need big punishments for these kind of things. DUI's are serious and people can get hurt/killed. Could be the driver could be a car full of other people or a person walking down the street.

If they are stupid enough to get a DUI they should not be driving at all even when sober. Its their own fault, they have to take the privilege away from the people. I am not saying send them to jail just take away their drivers license. Make them walk,run, take the bus, a cab. Anything so they cant be driving.

Or they could do is put a breathalyzer into every car and make it required everyone has one in their car.

[StevenSD]

Or they could do is put a breathalyzer into every car and make it required everyone has one in their car.

Do you have money to donate for that? Did you know that California has that for repeat offenders with restricted licenses? Prob not.

I didn't really want to share this, but I've recently got a DUI, does that make me a stupid person? Not at all, however it was a stupid thing I did. Was I so intoxicated I didn't know what was going on? Nope. I only had three beers, got caught at a check point, blew .09, just .01 above the limit.

I owe the city $2,000, I owe my DUI program $1,625, and it's going to cost me $145 to have my license reinstated after my suspension is completed.

If I were to have killed someone, that charges would've been more serious, and I wouldn't be here right now. The laws they already have in place are good enough, and the punishment they have is also good enough.

The city, state whatever has a great system already in place, and trust me the wages I make, those fines are enough to put me back two years from somethings I had planned later this years.

[Ball_Hawks]

Do you have money to donate for that? Did you know that California has that for repeat offenders with restricted licenses? Prob not.

The city, state whatever has a great system already in place, and trust me the wages I make, those fines are enough to put me back two years from somethings I had planned later this years.
Yes i did know about that with the repeat offenders.

What about all the stupid high school kids who just barely got their licenses. They go party and drive home how much? i trust nobody else behind the wheel at night cause how many dumb people their are.

Also if your drinker it would be cheaper for you to have one of them. Cause they are cheaper then the fines of a DUI & maybe loss of job cause you cant drive to work or your in jail.

To many people drink and drive. They should do more about it to stop it. Thats why i think they should do breathalyzers in cars or a longer period without a license. Even tho taking the license away doesn't always make it so they cant drive.

[BigBenCan7]

It WASN'T Stallworth's FAULT

Uhhh, yes it was.


That's the whole point, whether you want to admit it or not, Mr Reyes was at the same risk at dying wether a drunk OR sober driver hit him. The DA understood that, he understood a jury would point that out for Stallworth's credit, thus the 30 days in Dade County prision, PLUS 2 years house arrest and 8 years probation.

Actually, if a sober person would have been driving, he would have had a much better chance of suriving, considering their reaction time would have been much higher.


Are you saying that Stallworth should have a life sentence for a DUI? :rolleyes:

No, I'm saying that he should serve more than 30 days in jail for killing someone while he was driving under the influence.

:rolleyes:


I didn't really want to share this, but I've recently got a DUI

And now your existence in this thread makes perfect sense.

[FSUViking]

That's way to much.

Have a drunk driver kill someone in your family and see if it's "way too much."

[Texecutioner]

And now your existence in this thread makes perfect sense.

I'm not trying to start up any long argument with you, but I don't think that was a fair statement towards Steven. Just because he recently got a DUI doesn't mean that his opinion wouldn't have been the same regardless. There are a lot of people that share his beliefs on this subject with myself being one of them.

[StevenSD]

And now your existence in this thread makes perfect sense.

lol, if that's what you really believe then that just shows how narrow minded you truely are.

It's pretty easy to accept that the DA could not prove that Reyes wouldn't have died if Stallworth was sober, thus the main reason for only 30 days in prision.

I'm also accepting the fact that this wasn't just Stallworth's fault, so he shouldn't be completely blamed just because he was drinking, with everything he did after he hit the guy, just so he was coherent, aware of everything going on etc...so it's not like he was in a crazed alcohol state where he didn't even know if he hit him...

Anyways, it's dumb to drink and drive, and he's dealing with those punishments as well.