Chicago White Sox Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk pleads guilty in DUI case - MLB News
Baseball great Carlton Fisk has pleaded guilty to misdemeanour DUI on Thursday. The incident took place when the Hall of Fame catcher drove into fields moving off the road some time back. The incident was reported by fellow motorists on the road to the police.
This was a first offence by Fisk and he was given a $1250 fine and one year court supervision. He will also meet a panel of people who have lost loved ones as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The sentence was a normal one for first time offenders as per Dave Neal, the special prosecutor.
“We made him the same offer we would make any first-time offender in Will County,” Neal said.
Charges of improper lane use and open transportation of alcohol were dropped. His license that was earlier suspended for a period of 12 months after refusing a breath test at the scene was also restored.
Don DeWilkens, one of the attorneys for Fisk said that the former Chicago White Sox catcher is aware of is status of a role model and was a reason why he pleaded guilty, taking responsibility for his actions.
“He took responsibility when most athletes wouldn’t take responsibility,” DeWilkens said after the hearing. “... He realizes people, kids look up to him.”
When the police reached the scene, Carlton had passed out with a bottle of Vodka on him. The cops on the scene recognised him right away. He was taken to a hospital in New Lenox for a medical examination.
After he was discharged from the hospital, the initial charges of drunken driving, improper lane use and transporting open alcohol were filed.
Stephen White, the other attorney representing Fisk said that use of alcohol with prescriptions drugs is not a good idea as was the case this time. He was glad that the results of this error were not grave.
The Chicago White Sox team officials had no comments on the event. Carlton Fisk is currently associated with the White Sox as the community relations ambassador for the team.
The club’s spokesperson Scott Reifert said that Carlton has been a loved figure and a single event such as this is unlikely to change that.
“He certainly is a Hall of Famer and played for many years for the White Sox,” Reifert said. “Fans really enjoy spending time (with him) and seeing someone like Carlton Fisk. I wouldn’t anticipate that changing at all.”
One hopes that Carlton Fisk has learnt his lesson and would be more careful in the future about the use of alcohol with prescription drugs. This also serves a notice to everyone to be careful in one’s actions. Carlton has done the right thing by pleading
guilty, sending the right message to his fans.
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