DUI charge: Jacksonville Jaguars silent as WR Justin Blackmon pleads not guilty -NFL News
Jacksonville Jaguars continue to decline commenting on the issue of the draft wide receiver, Justin Blackmon, who appeared in a local court for the first time since his arrest and release on the DUI (driving under influence) charge on Sunday, June 03.
According to the management, they were still trying to gather information regarding the receiver’s arrest.
Blackmon, in the meantime, has pleaded not guilty before the court, denying the DUI charge.
After the player’s appearance before the court, his attorney, Cheryl Ramsey, reported that the court has allowed his client to remain free on the $1000 bond that Blackmon deposited as a guarantee for his release for the weekend.
The player entered and left the courtroom surrounded by his friends, while he and his attorney refrained from offering any comments to the media outside the courtroom.
No date has emerged for regular hearing of the case so far. Also, no comment from any of the relevant circles have come on the possibility of a plea bargain by the player.
However, the possibility of a bargain on the charge remains there as it is a normal practice for a player to seek such a move to avoid maximum penalty i.e. imprisonment, in a case.
The police arrested Blackmon in the wee hours of Sunday on the DUI charge. The test results showed him to be three times over the alcohol consumption limit at the time.
Later, he was released on the $1000 bond while waiting to appear before the court on Monday, June 04.
Meanwhile, the professional football regulator, National Football League (NFL) has said that the player faces a disciplinary action irrespective of the fact that he has not signed a pro deal yet.
His punishment will be different to the one handed down to experienced professional football players.
Some reports have claimed that the player is most likely to receive an evaluation and treatment plan with some random testing added to it.
It is pertinent to mention this is the second DUI charge that the player has faced in the last three years. The league office said they will discipline him on only one count, the latest one.
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