http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9378392/Stallworth-charged-with-DUI-manslaughter?MSNHPHMA

generally any bad news for a team in the divsion is good news, but this is just bad news for everyone. Guy was a construction worker going home after his night shift.

either way though, Brownies way overpaid for Stallworth.

"We do do, and we do it at a very, very high level," Lewis said.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?prov=ap&slug=ap-stallworth-pedestriankilled&type=lgns


I feel like I have to puke

------------------------------------------
In Memory of Darren

I was shocked when I heard he only got 30 days. If I killed I pedestrian with my car while drunk, I would be expecting to go away for at least a couple of years. I think the family must have worked with the DA to secure a lot of settlement money and were not looking for vengeance.

"I think I will try to stick to conversations that don't involve politics." - murf, April 17 2009

It sounds to me like the DA had some difficulties in this case. On first glance, it is likely that the guy who died was not in a crosswalk, likely darted out in front of Stallworth and perhaps an issue with the BAC tests.

DA's dont care if someone pays the family a ton of money (other than it may keep the family from calling the DA's office non-stop about the prosecution of the crime).

This isn't that shocking. Hardly any case is as easy to prove in real life as they make it seem on tv. That is one of the problem's with non-attorney's opinions on legal matters. They usually on see the major points and fail to see the nuances, exceptions and real law. I digress...

"The American Cancer Society says uninsured patients are 60 percent more likely to die within five years of their diagnosis."

"That is one of the problem's with non-attorney's opinions on legal matters. They usually on see the major points and fail to see the nuances, exceptions and real law. I digress.."

...and one of the main reasons why the general public tend to hate lawyers (yourself excluded of course bronco). Legal technicalities and faulty procedure be damned, I think most people who agree that if someone is killed by a drunk driver (who even admits responsibility, as in this case) they should be locked up for more than a month. I would not be surprised if large monetary compensation to the family and their satisfaction with that played a role in the DA not being particularly aggressive here.

"I think I will try to stick to conversations that don't involve politics." - murf, April 17 2009

Those "legal technicalities" are required to keep the government from abusing citizens.

There are 10 types of people in this world, those who undertsand binary, and those who do not.

and he admitted guilt after the plea bargain was placed in front of him.

Draw, that is why I said "real law" after the words exceptions and technicalities - sort of my own sarcasm at those that criticize technicalities when in actuality that is what makes our law so great...

"The American Cancer Society says uninsured patients are 60 percent more likely to die within five years of their diagnosis."

Agreed Bronco.

There are 10 types of people in this world, those who undertsand binary, and those who do not.

He should do more than a month, but then again, it is hard to fault the guy for hitting a person that was crossing the street outside of the marked area.

no excuse for Stalworth at all, but you are dealing with money and lawyers and that spells trouble for the DA in most cases.

I say the NFL will go with a full year and some outlandish testing after that.

Fine guys, then I trust you wouldn't complain if some drunk got a month in the slammer for killing your brother/father/son.

"I think I will try to stick to conversations that don't involve politics." - murf, April 17 2009

BA,

I think that is oversimplifying the scenario. Its obvious there were problems with the prosecutors case or else they would not have pled down...

"The American Cancer Society says uninsured patients are 60 percent more likely to die within five years of their diagnosis."

The guy was crossing a 4-lane highway. Even someone sober could have hit him.

30 days is a bit short, but this crime is much less than, say, Vick. Not to say that the victim had it coming...but...he had it coming!

"The guy was crossing a 4-lane highway. Even someone sober could have hit him... Not to say that the victim had it coming...but...he had it coming!"

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/1100610.html

"The biggest hurdle at trial might have been that Reyes, 59, was not in a crosswalk when he crossed the causeway to catch a bus home, though Stallworth admitted he had enough time to honk his horn and flash his lights at him."

That indicates the difference between driving and drunk driving. Judgment and motor functioning are impaired, and reaction time is slowed. I would imagine a sober person who had enough time to honk and flash his lights could swerve in order to miss a pedestrian.

Interesting comment: Defense attorney Robert Reiff, who specializes in DUI cases, said before MADD became active in recent years, many defendants did little time for similar cases. He added that the family's wishes are usually the driving force. ''Had the family been out for blood and wanted [Stallworth] to go to prison for 15 years, the state would have given that great weight,'' Reiff said.

So there you have it. Reyes's family had dollar signs in their eyes and said "Show me the money!" What an pathetic justice system.

Good article that sums up my thoughts:http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/columnists/story/1102483.html


"I think I will try to stick to conversations that don't involve politics." - murf, April 17 2009

Also keep in mind that Stallworth and the family had a $weet settlement ca$h wise. The family could have thumbed their noses at money and pleaded for the judge to hand down a harsh sentence, but they chose not to do that and take the money instead. Very well handled case by Stallworth's legal team.

It is a case where money was the difference (Stallworth had money for the best attorneys and had money to settle with the victim's family), but again, good for all involved. Stallworth gets a second chance in life after a MISTAKE, and hopefully some good comes out of the money that this family received. Then again, if Stallworth does the Bengal thing and does this again in two years, then he would deserve a harsh sentence!

Although this story does give the opportunity for Len Pasquarelli to write something funny:
"Just like it's not possible to be "a little bit pregnant," there aren't degrees of dead."

And stallworth is suspended indefinitely.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4270487

"Stallworth gets a second chance in life after a MISTAKE"

Tell that to Mario Reyes who is now a corpse. Tell that to the teenage daughter left behind. I would hardly call drunk driving an innocent mistake. However, the wife made a lot of money out of the deal so apparently that makes it all good.

"I think I will try to stick to conversations that don't involve politics." - murf, April 17 2009

I guess there are 2 ways to look at this... granted he was drunk, but its not like he passed out at the wheel, crossed over a median on a freeway and plowed into Reyes driving in the other direction head on. Part of this is Reyes being in the wrong place at the wrong time, along with Stallworth. And as it seems everyone agrees here.... Stallworth's legal team probably made it very hard on the Prosecuting Attorney(s), combined with tons of money being thrown at the family, combined with not a ton of heat coming in to crucify Stallworth... its a closed case for a Prosecutor...... something they like.

This whole scenario doesnt surprise me... it also wont surprise me if Roger Goodell takes it to him with a lengthy suspension and heavy fine.