DUI dropped as Pittsburgh Steelers’ receiver Hines Ward pleads guilty to lesser counts– NFL News
The prosecution in the case of Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver, Hines Ward, has dropped the charge of driving under the influence (DUI) after the player pled guilty to a lesser charge.
Ward has accepted the charge of reckless driving and his lawyer, Andrew Ree, said they were happy with the outcome.
Ree said:
"We are grateful for the outcome. By dropping the DUI charge it is clear that the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to proceed.”
Further, the player opted not to contest the charge of failing to maintain his lane while driving.
Following admission of the guilt, the court ruled multiple punishments for the player, apparently aimed at disciplining him.
Ward will serve 12 months probation, offer 80 hours of community work, pay fine of worth $2000, participate in a risk reduction programme and undergo alcohol evaluation and test.
The player was stopped on his way to home by police on early morning of July 09, 2011, for his inability to maintain a lane and hitting a curb.
According to the police, the player failed a field sobriety test and refused to take breathalyser test, which could determine the level of alcohol in his body while driving.
Ward was consequently arrested and charged for a number of alleged offences including the DUI.
He earlier denied all those charges and pled his innocence. Later, he accepted the lesser charge of reckless driving and inability to maintain his lane.
Ree said that his client has maintained his innocence throughout the case and the prosecution apparently did not have sufficient proof to proceed against him under the charge of DUI.
Andrew Ree added:
"Hines has always maintained that his ability to drive was in no way impaired and we are pleased that the facts support his innocence. He is thankful to his legal team and to all who stand by him. Hines has a great respect for the legal system and is also
grateful in particular to the state for the professional manner in which they handled this manner."
It is pertinent to mention that Ward is among the few players who, despite expressing an explicit desire of staying with Steelers in the future, face release by the franchise.
Steelers have enforced a campaign to cut the players’ salaries to keep the expense down within the cap level. They already have waived off a cornerback and a receiver.
Ward has recently become a subject of discussion in media that he was going to be next in the line of fire, which prompted a strong reaction from the player.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers do not offer him a deal, the player is set become an unrestricted free agent after the trade deadline of March 13, 2012.
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