PennStateMtnMan
09-19-2006, 10:43 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- His mother crying in the courtroom behind him, Maurice Clarett stood before a judge as a common criminal in the town where not so long ago he was a king.
Gone was the glory of having led Ohio State to a national championship as a freshman tailback, along with the can't-miss prospect of an NFL career.
In their place stood a prison term of at least 3 1/2 years, the product of a plea deal Clarett took Monday as he was about to be tried on allegations that he robbed two people at gunpoint.
"He was up here," Clarett's attorney, Michael Hoague, said minutes later, raising his arm up to eye level. "He got down here," he said, lowering his arm to his waist. "And he's going to be back up here again."
Clarett was sentenced to 7 1/2 years with release from prison possible after 3 1/2 years. He also agreed to serve five years of probation for the robbery outside a bar early on New Year's Day and carrying a concealed weapon.
"It's in a range that will allow him to get his life back together after his release," prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
For Clarett, 22, the plea bargain preserved the chance he could one day resurrect a career he had tried to keep going until the night last month that he led police on a highway chase in a sport utility vehicle with four loaded guns. Officers had to spike the tires to stop him and use pepper spray and handcuffs to subdue him when his bulletproof vest stymied their stun guns.
"There are institutions in Ohio that actually have opportunities to work out and train for football and other athletics," Hoague said. "We're hoping he can do that, and stay in shape and be focused on that."
A bearded Clarett, wearing handcuffs and jail-issued clothing, remained expressionless throughout the hearing.
"I'd like to apologize for my behavior, and I accept the time that was given to me," Clarett said in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
After the judge accepted the deal, Clarett looked over at his mother in the first row of the gallery. She sobbed and held his 8-week-old daughter while sitting next to his girlfriend.
As a true freshman, Clarett led Ohio State to the 2002 national championship, scoring the winning touchdown in the second overtime in the title game against Miami.
That was the last time he played for the Buckeyes, and his life has spiraled out of control ever since.
He was suspended for lying to NCAA investigators before the 2003 season and dropped out of school. He lost a U.S. Supreme Court case challenging the NFL's requirement that players wait three years after high school before turning pro. The Denver Broncos made Clarett a surprise third-round pick in the NFL's 2005 draft, only to cut him during the preseason.
"It's really a shame that someone puts themselves in that position," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Monday. "I'm just hoping when he does get out that he's learned his lesson and comes back with a mind-set that he's going to be productive (in society)."
Authorities said Clarett flashed a gun and robbed two people of a cell phone early Jan. 1. He turned himself in around the time that many of his former Buckeyes teammates were putting the finishing touches on a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame.
Clarett had been drinking heavily on New Year's Eve, Hoague said. But the attorney did not explain why Clarett had a gun in his waistband.
"Obviously, that was a bad decision," Hoague said.
Clarett's attorneys said the guns police found in the SUV belonged to Clarett and came from his mother's house. They said he had the guns because he was trying to give them to acquaintances to hold for him, but the attorneys did not elaborate.
Clarett's father, Myke, issued a statement that said he watched the last year of his son's life in anguish.
"Somewhere along the way, that positive energy and focus turned into something else. Something that only Maurice can verbalize and he has chosen not to do so at this time," he said.
Had Clarett been convicted on all charges, he would have faced three to 34 years in prison. Assistant Prosecutor Tim Mitchell said he expects Clarett will serve just over 4 years, with his last six months spent outside prison at a community-based corrections facility.
A victims' assistant from the prosecutor's office read a statement from the robbery victims, who said the ordeal has been hard on all aspects of their lives.
"Mr. Clarett, we hope you will use this opportunity to help someone along the way," it read.
It is about time this bum gets what he deserves. I do feel bad that Ohio State has to have this enigma as part of their Alummi. I might not like OSU for that one week a year; but, I do like them in general.
Gone was the glory of having led Ohio State to a national championship as a freshman tailback, along with the can't-miss prospect of an NFL career.
In their place stood a prison term of at least 3 1/2 years, the product of a plea deal Clarett took Monday as he was about to be tried on allegations that he robbed two people at gunpoint.
"He was up here," Clarett's attorney, Michael Hoague, said minutes later, raising his arm up to eye level. "He got down here," he said, lowering his arm to his waist. "And he's going to be back up here again."
Clarett was sentenced to 7 1/2 years with release from prison possible after 3 1/2 years. He also agreed to serve five years of probation for the robbery outside a bar early on New Year's Day and carrying a concealed weapon.
"It's in a range that will allow him to get his life back together after his release," prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
For Clarett, 22, the plea bargain preserved the chance he could one day resurrect a career he had tried to keep going until the night last month that he led police on a highway chase in a sport utility vehicle with four loaded guns. Officers had to spike the tires to stop him and use pepper spray and handcuffs to subdue him when his bulletproof vest stymied their stun guns.
"There are institutions in Ohio that actually have opportunities to work out and train for football and other athletics," Hoague said. "We're hoping he can do that, and stay in shape and be focused on that."
A bearded Clarett, wearing handcuffs and jail-issued clothing, remained expressionless throughout the hearing.
"I'd like to apologize for my behavior, and I accept the time that was given to me," Clarett said in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
After the judge accepted the deal, Clarett looked over at his mother in the first row of the gallery. She sobbed and held his 8-week-old daughter while sitting next to his girlfriend.
As a true freshman, Clarett led Ohio State to the 2002 national championship, scoring the winning touchdown in the second overtime in the title game against Miami.
That was the last time he played for the Buckeyes, and his life has spiraled out of control ever since.
He was suspended for lying to NCAA investigators before the 2003 season and dropped out of school. He lost a U.S. Supreme Court case challenging the NFL's requirement that players wait three years after high school before turning pro. The Denver Broncos made Clarett a surprise third-round pick in the NFL's 2005 draft, only to cut him during the preseason.
"It's really a shame that someone puts themselves in that position," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Monday. "I'm just hoping when he does get out that he's learned his lesson and comes back with a mind-set that he's going to be productive (in society)."
Authorities said Clarett flashed a gun and robbed two people of a cell phone early Jan. 1. He turned himself in around the time that many of his former Buckeyes teammates were putting the finishing touches on a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame.
Clarett had been drinking heavily on New Year's Eve, Hoague said. But the attorney did not explain why Clarett had a gun in his waistband.
"Obviously, that was a bad decision," Hoague said.
Clarett's attorneys said the guns police found in the SUV belonged to Clarett and came from his mother's house. They said he had the guns because he was trying to give them to acquaintances to hold for him, but the attorneys did not elaborate.
Clarett's father, Myke, issued a statement that said he watched the last year of his son's life in anguish.
"Somewhere along the way, that positive energy and focus turned into something else. Something that only Maurice can verbalize and he has chosen not to do so at this time," he said.
Had Clarett been convicted on all charges, he would have faced three to 34 years in prison. Assistant Prosecutor Tim Mitchell said he expects Clarett will serve just over 4 years, with his last six months spent outside prison at a community-based corrections facility.
A victims' assistant from the prosecutor's office read a statement from the robbery victims, who said the ordeal has been hard on all aspects of their lives.
"Mr. Clarett, we hope you will use this opportunity to help someone along the way," it read.
It is about time this bum gets what he deserves. I do feel bad that Ohio State has to have this enigma as part of their Alummi. I might not like OSU for that one week a year; but, I do like them in general.