Great news: Sean Taylor

[Redskin_fan]

Not to put the cart before the horse, because the judge has to approve it, but it looks like we do not have to worry about Sean Taylor. I was down on him last year because of this incident, but think he is going to have an incredible year.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02245.html

Redskins' Taylor to Accept a Plea Deal
Felony Charges Will Be Dismissed

By Amy Shipley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 1, 2006; Page E01

MIAMI, May 31 -- A plea deal has been reached in the felony assault case involving Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor that ensures Taylor will not spend a day in jail and the felony charges against him will be dismissed, one of Taylor's attorneys said Wednesday.

Taylor, who faced up to 46 years in prison over charges related to a street fight last June, agreed to the plea terms Wednesday, according to attorney Larry R. Handfield, who joined Taylor's defense team in February.

The agreement, which will require the approval of Judge Leonard Glick, will be presented during a hearing Thursday morning in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building.

Handfield said Taylor, the Redskins' No. 1 draft pick in 2004, has agreed to plead no contest to one misdemeanor battery charge and one misdemeanor assault charge. The deal includes a withholding of a conviction, Handfield said, and the dismissal of three charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon that each carried a mandatory minimum three-year sentence.

Taylor also agreed to visit 10 schools in the inner city, providing $1,000 to each school, according to Handfield.

Taylor's trial had been scheduled for July 10, about three weeks before the start of Redskins training camp. The deal, if accepted by the judge, would bring an end to a case that included seven delays and threatened to intersect with the upcoming season.

"Even though I was certain he would be vindicated at trial, this avoids the risk associated with any trial," Handfield said. "With the present charges, he was looking at 45 years in prison if he was found guilty. This way, he can be in training camp and put this behind him, close this chapter in his life."

Ed Griffith, a spokesman at the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office, declined to comment.

Taylor's defense team met with prosecutor Abe Laeser on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Handfield and Taylor's lead attorney, Richard Sharpstein. Sharpstein, an attorney with the Washington-based Jorden Burt firm, declined to comment for this story on whether a deal had been reached.

Laeser is a respected veteran of the state attorney's office who took over the case about six weeks ago after allegations surfaced that the previous prosecutor, Mike Grieco, was using it to promote his side career as a Miami Beach disc jockey. After Grieco stepped down from the case, Taylor's trial was postponed from early May to mid-July.

The charges against Taylor stem from a fight in Miami that occurred last June 1 after Taylor went searching for two all-terrain vehicles he believed had been stolen from him. Police reports and depositions describing the incident said Taylor brandished a gun and issued threats before initiating a fistfight with the man he believed had stolen his property.

After retreating from the fight that involved at least a dozen people, according to depositions and court records, shots were fired into Taylor's GMC Yukon Denali while it was parked at a friend's house.

Days after the incident, Taylor was charged with one count of felony assault and one count of misdemeanor battery, which carry a combined maximum of 16 years in prison. In January, the prosecution brought two other felony charges, each adding another possible 15 years imprisonment.

Taylor acknowledged that a fight occurred but claimed it was prompted by the prosecution's main alleged victim, Ryan Hill, according to Ed Carhart, one of Taylor's attorneys. Taylor said Hill, against whom Taylor played high school football in Miami, attempted to force his way into Taylor's Denali and then threw Taylor to the ground, Carhart said.

Carhart also said Taylor denied waving a weapon.

Carhart did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday but said last week the case "weighs heavily on [Taylor] and is very frustrating for him. This is not easy to go through. If a jury decides to convict him, the judge has to give him three years at least."

Taylor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, could not be reached. Taylor was credited last season with 80 tackles, third-most among the Redskins, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and one sack. Taylor attended Gulliver Prep in Miami. His father, Pedro Taylor, is chief of police in Florida City, Fla.

[Justice Hog]

The deal includes a withholding of a conviction....

This sounds like something similar to Probation Before Judgment in Delaware. A defendant pleads guilty to charge(s) and, instead of entering a conviction on his/her record, the judge places the defendant on a type of probation for a term certain (and orders him/her to complete certain requirements). At the end of that term, if the defendant completes all of the requirements and stays out of trouble, the charges are then officially "dismissed".

This is a great resolution for this case. Even if S.T. didn't do squat, it would be very hard to turn this type of plea offer down because (a) it avoids any conviction whatsoever, (b) it avoids any prison time; and (c) it finally [and I mean finally] puts this case behind him!!!

I am really very very glad about this and I can't wait to see Sean playing this year. I think the kid has grown up a ton in the past few years and he's ready for his first official "break out" year.

"Break out year" you ask? Hasn't he played well already?

My answer to that question would be a resounding "yes"; however, we haven't seen nothin' yet!

Just watch.

He's gonna be an absolute monster this year!

Just strap on your seatbelt and enjoy the ride folks!!

[BossHog]

I don't think any of us that were TRULY paying attention to this trial were EVER that worried about the eventual outcome.

But it does mean that we can stop putting up with other fans' jaded, half-baked rants about it...

... now we'll just have to listen to them whine about 'preferrential treatment'.

[joebagadonuts]

What are we going to talk about for the next 3 months?!?

[SkinsFanInHawai'i]

Hey JH or anyone else who might now;
What are the chances of this becoming a civil suit?

I don't really understand what that is, but I just remember when OJ was found not guilty he had another trial and they took all his money.

Maybe I just can't remember how that trial went down.

[CooleyAsIce]

It sure is nice to see another Skins fan in Delaware lol. I live in MD, but I work in Delaware and it is definitely Eagles country.

[Fios]

OJ = actually killed someone
Taylor = did not commit a crime (of any real signifigance)

[LetsRollBurgundyNGold]

What are the chances of this becoming a civil suit?

That is a good question, but with the "victim" (used very loosely) having been arrested for stealing an ATV after this incident and no reports of any injuries sustained, I don't see where he has much of a case. But stranger things have happened (Mike Greico aka DJ ESQ, anyone?)

I'm happy for Sean that he doesn't have to worry about spending most of his natural life behind bars anymore and can concentrate on his game now. With all the lawyer fees, the probable donations to the schools he visits, and what is sure to be a hefty fine from the NFL for violating the personal conduct policy, he's definitely paying for his indiscretion.

I am concerned that the NFL might try to suspend him for 4 games for violating that policy. I don't know the technicalities of it all, whether is has to be a "conviction" or just a "guilty plea". Anyone know the exact rule on that?

[Chris Luva Luva]

If the glove doesn't fit...

If the quad is amiss you must aquit.

[Fios]

What are the chances of this becoming a civil suit?

That is a good question, but with the "victim" (used very loosely) having been arrested for stealing an ATV after this incident and no reports of any injuries sustained, I don't see where he has much of a case. But stranger things have happened (Mike Greico aka DJ ESQ, anyone?)

I'm happy for Sean that he doesn't have to worry about spending most of his natural life behind bars anymore and can concentrate on his game now. With all the lawyer fees, the probable donations to the schools he visits, and what is sure to be a hefty fine from the NFL for violating the personal conduct policy, he's definitely paying for his indiscretion.

I am concerned that the NFL might try to suspend him for 4 games for violating that policy. I don't know the technicalities of it all, whether is has to be a "conviction" or just a "guilty plea". Anyone know the exact rule on that?

The NFL has winked at much larger indiscretions in the past

[BernieSki]

Best Redskins news I have heard this offseason. Lets get him up to Virginia for the OTA's.

[Redskin in Canada]

I am concerned that the NFL might try to suspend him for 4 games for violating that policy.

It will not happen. When a judge imposed a penalty (fine or community service, for example) neither the NFL or the team can impose any further penalties. That is why Smoot will not be charged by the NFL or the Vikes with any further penalties either.

Another DISTRACTION out of the way. I can see 2006 season playoffs from where I am standing.

[riggofan]

YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry this is the best bit of skins news I've heard in months.

[gay4pacman]

go sean.


he is going to be focused for the season

[DeathByLinebacker#56]

Taylor caught a break, wow. An athlete getting away with..... well you know what.

[Redskin in Canada]

Taylor caught a break, wow. An athlete getting away with..... well you know what.

The evidence was so weak that they never had much of a case anyway. They would not have offered such a deal if theythought they coud get anything else.

[Mursilis]

What are we going to talk about for the next 3 months?!?

Time for another QB constroversy thread!

Kidding!! Kidding!!

[ATV]

This post reminds me a lot of the one I made about this last night. I had the scoop but it was removed. What gives?

[Justice Hog]

Hey JH or anyone else who might now;
What are the chances of this becoming a civil suit?

There is alsays a chance the victim can try to sue civilly, but if he's the criminal that everyone is portraying him to be, his chances are slim and none that he would be successful.

[spudstr04]

I AM SOOOOOO FREAKIN HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BossHog]

This post reminds me a lot of the one I made about this last night. I had the scoop but it was removed. What gives?

Nothing gives... it ended up getting merged with the Sean Taylor thread that was active when you posted it... as it had actually already been posted when you re-posted it...

http://www.the-hogs.net/forum/viewtopic. ... ht=#252786

Try hitting the link in the toolbox that says 'View Your posts' when you're looking for something that you yourself have posted.



So apparently, your inability to look around is 'what gives'.

Considering that this SHOULD mark the end of the trial, I thought it was okay for a new thread to get legs this morning. I could have merged this on to the end of the other thread... or spliced off the end of the other one and put it at the beginning of this one... but honestly... why should i bother? It really boils down to the fact that three people posted links to the exact same article, doesn't it?

We don't have the luxury of being able to clean up all of the mess all of the time.

Ironically, it's probable that someone will post a link to the same article again.