Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy certainly put the subject up for debate when he accepted a plea bargain between Browns wide receiver Donté Stallworth and the family of the deceased Mario Reyes.
Reyes was a 59-year-old crane operator who was killed after being struck by Stallworth's Bentley early in the morning of March 14. Reyes was crossing a causeway on his way to catch a bus.
Stallworth stopped, was judged to have an alcohol level of .126, well over the legal limit.
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Comments » 44
CorchUrbenMyers writes:
Furst!
99gator writes:
ahhhhh, got to love it in the USA right now......
serve a year or so in prison for dog fighting.....
get 30 days for killing someone.
will anyone protest when this guy reports to his pro team?
dvols writes:
maybe sportswriters should be judges?
im just sayin
jmr68ut writes:
You're right of course but if the victim's family is satisfied, why aren't we?
Bearwuzacheater writes:
Vick did not go to prison for dog fighting, he went to jail for running an illegal gambling operation which is a federal offense. You can't keep money out of the IRS's pockets and not expect some consequence. While the focus of the public has been on his dogfighting exploits, that was only what brought attention to his illegal activities.
That being said, anyone who gets enjoyment out of watching a domesticated animal fight to the death is sub-human and one short step away from being a serial killer and should be put down like they do to the dogs that don't perform for them.
Scuba_Curt writes:
Wonder if the payoff amount to the Reyes family was told to the judge, maybe he was getting a percentage of it. It just makes you wonder if any of us poor folks could have gotten the same deal.
jsm67vol writes:
I for one am satisfied. At a glance this doesn't appear to be much of a punishment, but we don't know how much he paid to the family. Losing your license for life-can't say that I've heard of that before. I wonder if this will hold in the state of FL or throughout all states. This route for punishment also saves us taxpayers the cost of longterm incarceration. Best wishes to the Reyes family and Donte.
smyrnavol writes:
don't forget obama. peta is all over his butt for killing a fly.asking for the death penalty i think. seriously, if the family is on board with this sentence, who are we to judge. 99% of us have had a few and driven, right?
bnakk#240693 writes:
There is also the fact that the "victim" in this case is probably mostly responsible for his own death. Crossing in the middle of the night in a spot where he should not have been AND not paying attention to whether or not anyone was coming. Not giving Stallworth a free pass but the sentence was reasonable given all the facts.
bugman (Inactive) writes:
oh cry me a river biddle boy. you're a writer and there's a reason why you took that job as a occupation because you spew trash.
99gator writes:
i agree what michael vick did was horrible.
i also agree with what someone else said.....legally, his problems stemmed more from "gambling" than dog fighting per se.
what i was really referring to (but not stated in my post), is that there was a larger public outcry of disdain for what michael vick did as opposed to what donte stallworth did.
that, to me, is sad.
beartn#223846 writes:
<<Although the tragic ending of someone's life should never be taken lightly, there seems to be a couple of mitigating factors here. 1) It is being reported, at least by some in my area, that this was an accident that would have happened whether Stallworth was drinking or not. The victim was jaywalking in a poorly lit area before sunrise. 2) The Reyes family's willingness to be paid off. We don't know the sum of money they received but I bet it was a bundle.>>
I'm no expert in Florida law, but generally being drunk trumps any mitigating factors. Stallworth was speeding (50 mph in a 40), and his impaired judgement got him to flash his lights at Reyes instead of hitting the brakes. My guess is that his cooperation, and willingness to pay the victim's family helped.
I don't think Stallworth is a bad person, but his poor judgement did contribute to a man's death. 30 days seems really light.
rusty_shackleford writes:
While it is sad that anyone has to lose their life in a vehicular homicide, there are a lot of facts that are ignored or buried deep within various columns, much like this one. Biddle does mention deep in the column the punishment Stallworth receives, the harshest being a lifetime ban on driving. However, the biggest thing that writers seem to ignore is that the idea for a payout came from the PROSECUTION, not Stallworth's attorneys.
Comparing Stallworth to Vick is ignorant. Comparing Stallworth to Ted Kennedy holds more water intellectually (no pun intended).
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Sensible post in a no-win situation.
bowser writes:
Situations like this also involve a victims family. The prosecutors office will give a great deal of attention to the survivors in a case like this. Such is the case here in Knoxville with the infamous double murder case nearing trial here. The families desire a death penalty trial after having visited the maximum security prisons here in this state. Back to Donte Stallworth's case. If everyone involved is satisfied with the plea deal, then it saves the State of Florida time and money involved in a trial. This is the best case scenario.
KCHS63 writes:
Compare the two cases this way (this is from today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution, no lover of Vols or former Vols):
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/spo...
golfballs03 writes:
People, you have to look at this in the context of the law. According to the law, Reyes was determined to have partial responsibility in the accident because he was jaywalking. That doesn't take away the fact that Donte killed someone, but as far as the law goes, this case worked out for the best.
us43137415#376444 writes:
Every single one of you is missing the point....
The victim's family has accepted an undisclosed financial settlement with Stallworth. The size of the un-named settlement is DIRECTLY porportional to the sentence the family requested to the D.A. The EXACT same thing happened to Leonard Little in St. Louis.
The long and short of it is.. this family made millions off their loved one's demise. Either Stallworth or his attorney went to the family, and negotiated a million-dollar settlement. The family then went to the D.A. and told him they did not want him to serve a lot of time. As long as Stallworth was remorseful, the D.A. honored the family's wishes.
It is always about, and always will be about $$$$$$$.
Unfortunately.
Volborn writes:
730 am is not the middle of the night, but on the East Coast in the winter, it is dusk. I'm not condoning driving under the influence, but it sounds like Stallworth saw the man on the side of the road, flashed his lights, assumed the guy would stay on the sidewalk and the guy stepped right into his path. This probably would have happened even if Stallworth were sober. However, if Stallworth were sober, he probably would have been at home in bed!
RJ_Vol writes:
DUI's are abhorable. I absolutely agree the man crossing the road is partly responsible since he was crossing in an irresponsible manner. HOWEVER, if Donte Stallworth doesn't get behind the wheel after having a drink...this never happens. Donte should have received a stronger sentence, maybe five years or more. Killing someone while driving drunk is close to pre-meditated murder. I'm a Vol, but this goes deeper than sports. Donte killed a man. It's as simple as that. He should serve the time. No excuses. In the end, Donte will go home to his family. Granted, he will have to live with the knowledge that he took a life without cause. But nevertheless, he will go home and will be a support to them. The man who was killed...will never go home. His family will have an empty place due to the irresponsibility of a drunk.
utang1602#204610 writes:
To "utwhinesalot" who referred repeatedly to Donte as a murderer, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Something tells me you don't know Donte, and judging another isn't right either and certainly isn't your place.
Driving drunk is wrong. There's no question about that. But from the moment it happened, Donte acknowledged what he had done. He stopped—rather than running, he tried to help the man, he called for assistance, and he has asked for the forgiveness of the victim's family. Their opinion, regardless of how much their settlement was, is ultimately the only one, apart from God, that matters at this point.
BTW, the poster above is correct. At 7:30 am in the middle of March, it would have still been dark outside here in Tennessee, which means it was in Florida as well. Unless they have some sort of special sun that I'm unaware of.
JtDL writes:
Stallworth also can never legally drive again and gets eight years of probation. That is not very light.
RJ_Vol writes:
Respectfully, a DUI is not an accident and is akin to premeditated murder if someone is killed as a result.
abnermc writes:
Whoaooo.Not too different from enjoying our boys play hockey, football , cage fighting,etc. Sub-human, serial killer? no, no, no.
jcherrie#219531 writes:
In response to an ESPN poll question: "If you were a Browns fan, would you be comfortable cheering for Donte Stallworth this season?" 64% said 'No'.
Will anyone protest drunk driving?
I've seen knuckleheads on these blogs indicate that it's no big deal.
Vick deserved his prison time. But it does show that justice is not equally served.
picchic913#459936 writes:
with all due respect...the law says that if an accident is caused by another party but it so happens that the person they are in an accident with has been drinking (i.e if someone sober causes an accident with someone who had been drinking and the sober party still passed) then legally, the person drinking cannot be charged with that death if they did not cause the accident, drunk or not. they can still be charged with DUI but not the actual death. that being said, Donte has been cooperative, shown remorse, and tried to take responsibility for his actions. it's also quite possible that had Donte not been on the road, someone else could just as easily been the one to strike the man when they hadn't been drinking. this is not a case of a "celebrity" getting off easy.everyday people can get this same sentence without having money. if the family is satisfied we should leave it alone
abnermc writes:
Since we all think drinking & driving is unacceptable why don't we all stop drinking?
jcherrie#219531 writes:
Uttang - are you serious 'special sun'?
The sunrise is affected by latitude and position within the time zone.
Knoxville is on the western edge of the eastern time zone and quite a bit north of Miami. This leads to dark mornings in March.
The latest sun rise in Miami - even during the winter solstice is 7:01 am. Because of it's latitude the day only shortens by 3:13. It's the same reason the length of the day doesn't change significantly in Hawaii and there is no need for DST.
Is that special enough for you?
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Why is everyone comparing stallworth's case to vick's? people all over america get light sentences for major crimes and big sentences for lesser crimes. you don't use a person's profession (football player) as a precedent in court.
kiffownsfla writes:
Peta and everyone in that lil or deal can kiss MY AZZ! THEY ARE WORTHLESS TO PROTECT SOME THINGS IS OK BUT TO TRY AND BAN MY AND EVERY OTHER AVID HUNTER AND FISHERMANS RITES IS BULLSH#T! S#CK IT PETA!
thebrainofj writes:
Hey morons... Do you want to know the difference?
Stallworth was driving at a moderately high blood alcohol level just like millions of other Americans each day and was part of a tragedy which literally happens to thousands of people each year. He didn't want it to happen and would probably do anything to take it back... He made a mistake and it cost him and others.
On the other hand... Michael Vick was funding and participating in a dog fighting ring not only for proffit, but for entertainment and pleasure... and for a long time.
STOP COMPARING THESE 2 CASES... ONE WAS AN ACCIDENT, ONE INCLUDES AN A@#HOLE. THERE IS NO RELEVANCE TO EACH OTHER WITH THESE CASES.
leepevey writes:
Stallworth got more than just 30 days in jail and a paying a settlement. He also is on probation forever and will serve two years of house arrest after his thirty day jail term is over, and he also has lost his drivers license for a long time with a chance at a work permit many years from now. I do not think that a poor man would have gotten the same sentence, but I am not opposed to this settlement.
murrayvol writes:
Likely not 99% but surely a majority.
murrayvol writes:
Probably was a little of both.
spacificislander writes:
I am a Browns fan and a UT fan, and I am not comfortable cheering for Donte anymore. Making a decision to drink and drive is not an accident. He choose to break the law and now someone is dead because of it. Also 7:30 am is dawn, not dusk even in Miami.
spacificislander writes:
I also was unaware that Stallworth has had a "great" NFL career, he has consistently not lived up to his billing.
GhostofRobertNeyland writes:
Looks to me like they filled that empty spot with a big, fat wad of GREEN! The mourning period is over.
bowser writes:
Was the victim tested for alcohol or drugs?
RJ_Vol writes:
I don't do drugs or drink - not even a little. So, I would not be eligible for a DUI. I whole heartedly agree w/ your abortion stance though. Lastly, many who are wealthy don't "pay the time" because the fork out the money. I definitely don't think our high courts hand out justice on an even basis - OJ comes to mind...but it is what it is.
RJ_Vol writes:
I chuckled when I read that. That thought crossed my mind as well...maybe not as colorfully though!
RJ_Vol writes:
BPB. BTW...Some are more worried about POTUS Obama slapping a fly and taking enjoyment. Though I'm not a huge Obama fan(due to massive increases in government oversite...I'll leave it at that.), he did what the rest of us would have done...splat!!! He was proud of the fact, as would I have been.
whichdoctor writes:
I've had a few too many before, once driving in oncoming traffic (a large road with a divider), jumping the median, and pulling over and puking out the window. Then I felt better.
I bet 10% of drinkers have had a similar experience. I, for one, am responsible (it was only once). It happens. It is still very sad for the victim's family.
spacificislander writes:
So is it okay to not cheer for Stallworth since I don't believe in JESUS. 17 catches for 170 yards and one touchdown and the fact that he says his high-school instead of UT when he announces where he played is reason enough for me not to cheer for him, even if he didn't drunkly kill somebody.
spencer1989#206886 writes:
While I agree with the title of the article.....And while I am against drinking and driving and taking a life......On the flip side, it appears the victim's family is content with the settlement (which is sad that it appears money resolved it). IF the victim's family is content with all this....As well as the Florida court system....Then who are we to question this (even if I am surprised with the light sentence).
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