Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch has managed to evade jail time by striking a plea deal concerning his 2022 DUI case, as reported by David Charns of 8 News Now.
According to Charns, under the terms of the agreement, Lynch’s misdemeanor DUI charge will be downgraded to reckless driving, provided he fulfills certain conditions.
These conditions include completing DUI school, attending a victim impact panel, undergoing an alcohol evaluation, performing 200 hours of community service, and maintaining a clean record for one year. Additionally, Lynch has been ordered to pay a fine of $1,140.
In a statement issued by his attorneys, Richard Schonfeld and David Chesnoff, Lynch is noted as not having been convicted of any offense at the time. The statement clarifies that Lynch has consented to fulfill specific requirements, which will lead to the case being closed with a reckless driving traffic offense designation.
Lynch’s legal trouble stemmed from an incident in August 2022 when he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor DUI, failing to drive in a travel lane, and driving an unregistered vehicle. Authorities found him asleep behind the wheel of an unregistered car, deemed undrivable, near downtown Las Vegas.
According to the arrest report detailed by ProFootballTalk’s Michael David Smith, Lynch declined to take a breathalyzer test. Consequently, a blood sample was taken, revealing his blood alcohol level to be more than twice the legal limit.
Lynch’s legal representatives contended that he shouldn’t have been charged with a driving offense because his car was parked and not in operation. However, Nevada law dictates that anyone sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle is considered to be in “physical control” of the vehicle.
During his playing career, Lynch had previous run-ins with the law. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run charge, and in 2012, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving following a DUI suspicion.
Lynch, a first-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2007 draft, spent the majority of his 12-season career with the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he clinched a Super Bowl victory. He also had stints with the then-Oakland Raiders before retiring after the 2019 season.
