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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Ohio State football star Maurice Clarett agreed Monday to plead guilty to aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon. The deal would send him to prison for at least 3½ years and end two criminal cases against him.
The agreement was announced by Judge David Fais on the day jury selection was to begin in a case in which Clarett is accused of holding up two people outside a bar.
"Anyone else would have gone to prison. He's not getting any special treatment." -- Assistant Prosecutor Tim Mitchell
The concealed weapon charge was from his August arrest after a highway chase with police who found four loaded guns in Clarett's sport utility vehicle after they spiked the tires. Police used pepper spray to subdue and handcuff Clarett, who was wearing a bulletproof vest.
The deal called for a 7½-year sentence with release possible after 3½ years. The 22-year-old player also agreed to serve five years of probation after the prison sentence.
Clarett said he understood he was pleading guilty and reversing his earlier innocent plea.
"I'd like to apologize for my behavior, and I accept the time that was given to me,'' he said.
After the deal was announced, he looked over at his mother who was sobbing and holding his 8-week-old daughter while sitting next to his girlfriend.
Assistant Prosecutor Tim Mitchell said the plea deal is consistent with how his office handles similar cases.
"Anyone else would have gone to prison. He's not getting any special treatment,'' Mitchell said.
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The agreement was announced by Judge David Fais on the day jury selection was to begin in a case in which Clarett is accused of holding up two people outside a bar.
"Anyone else would have gone to prison. He's not getting any special treatment." -- Assistant Prosecutor Tim Mitchell
The concealed weapon charge was from his August arrest after a highway chase with police who found four loaded guns in Clarett's sport utility vehicle after they spiked the tires. Police used pepper spray to subdue and handcuff Clarett, who was wearing a bulletproof vest.
The deal called for a 7½-year sentence with release possible after 3½ years. The 22-year-old player also agreed to serve five years of probation after the prison sentence.
Clarett said he understood he was pleading guilty and reversing his earlier innocent plea.
"I'd like to apologize for my behavior, and I accept the time that was given to me,'' he said.
After the deal was announced, he looked over at his mother who was sobbing and holding his 8-week-old daughter while sitting next to his girlfriend.
Assistant Prosecutor Tim Mitchell said the plea deal is consistent with how his office handles similar cases.
"Anyone else would have gone to prison. He's not getting any special treatment,'' Mitchell said.
more
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