The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Stallworth got 30 days in jail.

This is fucking unbelivable.  What stallworth did is 1000 times worse than Vick. 

not in florida .. apparently the victim was walking in the middle of the road and in florida that transfers responsibility from the driver to the pedestrian

One was an intentional act (Vick's dog abuse)...one was a stupid mistake (Stallworth's drinking and driving, victim's walking down the middle of the fucking road) that resulted in one of the people's death.

I am a little surprised at how light the sentence is for Stallworth too, but not really shocked by it.

One was repeated offense and deliberate, the other was a one-time accident against a moron in the road.

Stallworth pled guilty.  Correct me if I am wrong, but if someone agrees to plead out, isn't the sentence usually less than if they went to trial and were found guilty? (like Vick?) 

Leonard Little was driving drunk and ran a red light and struck another vehicle, killing Susan Gutweiler (yes, I have committed her name to memory).  He got 90 days in jail, served during the off season.  A similar thing happened to my cousin's friend and he got no jail time. 

There is a laxity in our legal system when it comes to killing someone while driving.  If you want someone dead, just run them down with your car.  You will get off easy.

Get off the back of the victim in this. Calling him a "Moron" and saying things like "walking down the middle of the fucking road" are uncalled for. The guy was crossing the road just as any of us have done and was hit by a car that had enough visibility to flash his lights and honk his horn as a warning. If I have the time to do that, I have the time not to hit a pedestrian.

They let Stallworth plead out because they knew their case was shaky against him.  The guy was not in the crosswalk, jumped out in front of him, and apparently had also been drinking. 

A short jail sentence, and taking care of the victim's family at the same time is a Godsend for Stallworth.  After he serves his time, he can put this ugly incident behind him.  I hope he learns from this. 

No he wasn't. He had just clocked out of work and was walking to the bus stop to get home. The building he works in was so close to the accident the other employees heard it and ran outside.

What they fail to mention is that he also got a lifetime driver's license suspension and 10 years of probation.

That's pretty significant, too.

  In terms of who died, yes it is worse.  In terms of moral character it is not.

When you can sit & do the things Vick did then it speaks to the morality of a person.  The soullessness.

Give Stallworth some credit.  He stood up & took responsibility for what he did.  The case appeared to be so shaky that the prosecution felt it was their best option of punishing him..  There most likely was a high chance of him getting off without punishment.

He also agreed to a settlement with the family.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-stallworth-pedestriankilled&prov=ap&type=lgns


I bet the Victim is resting peacefully knowing that his family sold him out. 

WOW just read this!! Thats fucked up!!

It's called comparable negligence. The same can be applied if you're in a car accident, injured but were not wearing a seatbelt. It means that you, as the victim, played into your becoming the victim. The victim here was jaywalking, an illegal act no matter how common.

Comparative negligence was never discussed in my crime law class.  And that is because it is NOT a criminal law concept.  It it a tort concept (the civil suit.) Compartive negligence is a very valid reason for the victim's family to get little or no money, but is not a reason to reduce his criminal sentence.

If I were struck and killed by a car, I would want the person responsible punished, of course, but I would also want my family taken care of. I would rest perfectly peacefully in the situation as described.

Do note that it was apparently the 15-year-old daughter who wanted to put the matter behind her. Doesn't sound like a money-grabbing move, but rather a sincere wish to move on. Can't say I blame her.

As for the punishment, I don't think it's that unreasonable. Had Stallworth not been famous, he could easily have gotten off without prison time. In cases where the defendant has no criminal record, is an "upstanding member of the community", didn't drive off, and cooperated fully from the very beginning, that's not an uncommon outcome - judging by the few cases I know or have heard of.

As is, he got:

- 30 days in jail.
- 2 YEARS of house arrest.
- 8 years of probation.
- 1000 hours of community service.
- Lifetime suspension of driver's license.
- Drug and alcohol testing.

I don't know... I think that's a significant punishment and not at all unreasonable.

I want to know more about his house arrest and probation, before I consider them any sort of real punishement.  According to reports they won't prevent him from playing in the NFL. 

So a house arrest that doesn't require you to stay in the state (Florida), even if the "house" is the one in Ohio, he is allowed to leave 8 weekends to travel to different cities.  Doesn't sound like a real house arrest to me. 

In most cases of house arrest, you are allowed to leave your house to go to work.  In his case, work is in different NFL cities 10 times out of the year (counting two preseason games).  What would probably have to happen is he has to stay confined to his hotel room when he is on the road with the team unless the team is participating in some sort of team function that is football related. 

Lifetime suspension of driver's license is what's really going to hurt him.  How will he be able to function after he retires from football??

Maybe another board member can help out.

Janet -- can you think of any cities in which one can function without a car? 

This is a really good thread.  KUDOS everyone.

Stallworth's crime was an accident, but his driving-under-the-influence makes him more culpable in my opinion.  It's not really an "accident" when you're driving under the influence.  KUDOS to him for pleading guilty. 

What he did, drinking and driving, was stupid, but I don't think the results of that can be called a mistake.  Bad things happen when you drink and drive.  If you point a loaded gun at a crowd of people, but close your eyes before you pull the trigger, you can't claim that you shot someone by "mistake".

Did Stallworth really flash his lights and honk his horn before striking the victim?  If so, why didn't the victim get out of the way?  (Anyone old enough to remember the old commercials: "You may be the toughest kid on your block but you'll never win a fight with an automobile"?)

Stallworth going to jail for a long time won't do much for the victim's family.  Money will.  Somehow I think most father's would prefer their families being taken care of over a long jail sentence.

^^^

Agree.

He is eligible to apply for a hardship license after 5 years I believe it said.

Micheal Vick spent 22 months in jail and 2 months under house arrest.  Godell said he won't even begin the process of considering Vick's reinstatement into the NFL until after the 2 months of house arrest have concluded.

I hope he remains consistant and waits until Stallworths house arrest has ended before considering reinstatement.  


While I agree with most of the rest of your post this is a bad example.  

What you describe is murder.  Specifically depraved heart murder, there is a famous case about 2 kids who were randomly firing a gun at a train.

Stallworth committed manslaughter.  

A closer anology would be if Plexico's gun had killed somone instead of simply injuring himself.  The reason laws against not bring a loaded unregistered gun into a night club using your sweatpants as a holster are similar to the reasons for laws against drinking and driving -- someone might get hurt or even killed.  

But even though Plexico didn't hurt anyone but himself he will likely get a stricter sentence.  

Lifetime rarely means lifetime.  I have also heard his 30 days is really 22. 

That's because in jail, particularly state or county jails, you get time subtracted for a lot of things, from sweeping your cells to taking college courses.

Anyone trying to compare Vick & Stallworth.  Lets point out the big facts here.

Vick lied to the Feds & financed a felony for something like 7 Yrs.  He also lied to Goodell, something I'm sure is playing a part in Goodells lack of urgency in reinstating Vick.   Vick did not make a simple one-time mistake.

Stallworth called the police on himself & has been remorseful about what he did.  Stallworth made a one-time mistake & it cost a man his life.    Some are acting as if Stallworth was high fiving after hitting this man, because he just score mega points.  He has to live with this mistake & from the way he has acted I highly doubt its something he is taking lightly.

As far as the payout.  Chances are the family did not want to sit in a courtroom & listen over & over how their family member died.

Perhaps the victim was exhausted after a long shift and did not hear/recognize what was going on until it was too late. I have witnessed cars drive down the road with an emergency vehicle going code three on their ass and not "see or hear" them until they were passed.

Very good post guys, I think the stallworth punishment is fair just as much as the punishment to vick was.

I don't buy the honking and flashing thing.  If he had time to see a guy honk and flash and he ran him over anyway?  I think he SAID that to make it seem like he tried to warn the guy...  why not slam on the brakes or swerve to miss him.  I don't know about you but I'd rather drive my car off the road than run a guy over. 

But that's just me.

Thank you.  Right from the start.  He did everything he was asked to do and he didn't seek out the sentence he received.  Right from the start he basically said "I can't bring the guy back, tell me how I can at least set up his family financially."  That was in the works before the sentence was handed down.

What makes more sense in this case? 

Choice 1:  The guy is dead.  Stallworth is in jail for 5 years.  The dead guy's family is broke, sues Stallworth and gets nothing because he spent his money on legal defenses and now can't play and earn more money.

Choice 2:  The guy is STILL DEAD.  Stallworth goes to jail for a period of time, loses his license for a dog's age, the dead guy's 15 year old daughter is set for life (as is the rest of the family) and Stallworth spends the next 20 years preaching to young people about what he did...owns it...and begs for it not to happen again.

From PFW

Goodell Cites “Public Confidence” In Suspending Stallworth
Posted by Mike Florio on June 18, 2009, 5:31 p.m.
Plenty of people think that Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth got a slap on the wrist from the justice system, receiving 30 days in jail and two years of house arrest after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter.

The perception that justice wasn’t done apparently fueled Commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to suspend Stallworth indefinitely, only two days after the guilty plea was entered.  Citing concepts like the integrity of the game and public confidence in the sport, Goodell moved far more swiftly than anyone expected.

“The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable,” Goodell wrote to Stallworth.  “While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL Commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL.

“The conduct that led to your conviction plainly violates both the Personal Conduct and Substances of Abuse policies.  Either provides me with full authority to take appropriate disciplinary action against you, including a fine or suspension without pay, and to impose appropriate conditions on your continued participation in the NFL. In this case, there is ample evidence to warrant significant discipline under both policies.

“There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league. Accordingly, I have decided to suspend you indefinitely, effective immediately.  In due course, we will contact your representatives to schedule a meeting with you, after which I will make a final determination on discipline.  Pending my final determination, you will not be permitted to visit the club’s facility or participate in any team activities.

“Everyone associated with the league derives tremendous benefits from participating in our game and from the extraordinary support we receive from the public.  With these benefits comes, among other things, the responsibility to conduct ourselves in a lawful and responsible way, with no entitlement to or expectation of favorable treatment.”

Wow.

Somewhere, Mike Vick and Plaxico Burress just peed a little.

^^^^^

I doubt he gets suspended for more than four games.  He's taken responsibility for his actions and is facing the consequences.  I'm sure Goodell will take that into consideration. 

Thats a good point.....always helps to man up to your actions, But I see him doing the Year.  He's got to make an impact on these players .

 Just a question.  What is the call on this whole situation if Stallworth was not legally under the influence?

I don't like the NFL suspending players for their legal actions like this, especially after the legal judgment has been made and served.  I don't know why, but it seems kind of like double jeopardy to me.  I hate Michael Vick for what he did...don't get me wrong, but I believe we have a legal system for this kind of thing.

If the NFL teams don't want to risk the bad publicity by signing these guys, fine, but I don't like the NFL being the sheriff.

Double jepordy says you can't be tried for the same crime twice, by the SAME entity.  You can in fact be tried for the same crime by both the feds and the state.

But it is not unussual for people to be fired from work for engaging in criminal activity away from work.  I am sure if a cop killed someone while drinking and driving off duty, he would either be fired or suspended without pay for some period of time.

My mom certainly didn't subscribe to the idea that grounding me for the same offense that the school gave me a suspension was some how unconsitutional.  Actually, the mere fact I was suspended was the basis for the grounding. 

No person should have the expectation to play in any sports league. This is the same as any job and in amny you lose your employment for something like this. In fact, almost every job out there you would lose after doing prison time.

What'd you get suspended for this time?  How long until you're ungrounded?

 ;D

Turns out he had traces of marijuana in his bloodstream.  Although he's been sentenced, this might tack on some time to his upcoming suspension.

http://www.miamiherald.com/1460/story/1121770.html

I'm not saying that the NFL doesn't have the legal right to do it, or that it's a legal issue at all.  I just figure that after the law has been decided, that should be enough.

If ANYbody had a right to smoke a spliff and relax a little it was Mike Vick.   He's had a rough 2-3 past Years.

He is a free man. 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-donte-stallworth-jail-bn071009,0,6275504.story

Guess he must've behaved well if he only served 24 days out of 30

Abuse dogs,serve year and ahalf in jail...6weeks suspension...
Kill someone gone for the year...

Stallworth suspended for the entire season.......
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/08/13/stallworth/index.html (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/08/13/stallworth/index.html)

Now that's way too harsh for Stallworth if you're gonna only give Vick a six week suspension. 

If I were Stallworth, I'd appeal this immediately, and if that doesn't work, I'd sue the NFL in a court of law.

I think the point that is going right over Tommy's head is simple...Which one is more likely to happen again...Drive drunk,or running a dog fighting ring.....The league can't be tolerant of drunk driving...I have no problems with the suspension....Sueing would just be a waste of time...If it were april or may..then fine....

I think a year suspension is fitting.

The guy KILLED someone.  A year is fine.  I bet in the corner of Stallworth's mind, he agrees...and he will need that time to get his mental act together.  I can't imagine that you just shrug something like that off, that must stay with you for a long time.  He seems to be a pretty good guy, I'm sure it's hurting him that his actions caused another person to lose their life.

he killed a PERSON.  Someone is dead because of him.  Someone's dad is dead.

And you think 1 year suspension is unjust?

Meh. ::)

^^^^^^

He killed someone UNINTENTIONALLY.  Vick killed and tortured innocent animals and intended to do so.  I'm not defending Stallworth for his actions.  His sentence was a little on the light side.  Do you think the commish took that into consideration?

Unintentionally, but he still made the choice to drink and get behind the wheel, which to me is the same as intent

You do realize Vick has actually been on a league suspension since before he was sentenced to prison. The guy has technically been on a suspension for basically two years and six weeks.

^^^  thanks, I was about to get to that.  Vick was "suspended indefinitely" over 2 years ago...

You got a point there.  I vividly remember watching the news ticker on ESPN saying that Vick was ordered by the commish not to report to training camp back in 2007.

At the risk of actually agreeing with "anything" that Tommy says, I don't see Stallworth and Vick's situations the same way at all.

Donte Stallworth had a moment's indiscretion that turned to tragedy and a person lost their life.

Michael Vick planned, financed and took pleasure in the destruction of countless animals for his sporting pleasure FOR SIX YEARS!

Anyone on this board could experience a tragedy like the one Stallworth caused. Not a single person on this board could knowingly do what Michael Vick did.

I agree with Sunstroke and Tommy here!

Vick knowingly TORTURED and killed many dogs for his own personal pleasure.

Stallworth did something millions of people do everyday.

One was a tragic ACCIDENT, the other had the intent to kill!

I am not defending Vick by this, but Stallworth voluntarily drank and got behind the wheel.  I know he did not mean to kill someone but he drove drunk.  Millions of people do not do that every day.  Maybe he would have seen the guy or stopped in time if he had not been drinking and driving.  We will never know.  I hope this tragedy will make others think twice about drinking and driving. 

yeah millions of people kill someone while driving everyday,

Do you mean just driving drunk or killing someone while doing it? I would say there are millions of people everyday.

Millions of people make the same lapse of judgment as Stallworth every day, in literally every country around the world. I'll bet an honest survey of the board members would show that at least half have driven at least once while intoxicated in their life.

Vick's situation is not one of an accident resulting from impaired judgment. It was the planned and executed abuse of animals for his personal pleasure and financial gain, and one that, had he not been caught, would still be going on today.

Any one of you can make a mistake when drinking...how many of you think you could make a mistake and accidentally run a dog-fighting ring for 6 years?

'Nuff said...

We can go around and around for days but it is what it is and we can't change it.

Sorry you were not clever enough to realize I was talking about driving drunk....next time I will make sure I specify so you are up to speed. ;)

Not true.

I have never driven drunk. 

I have participated in a gambling on the outcome animials (beta fish) fighting to the death.  I have killed and tourchered animals for pleasure on other occations as well (specifically by using a maginifing glass to fry ants on the sidewalk on hot sunny days).

I know some of you believe that there is a difference between tourchering popular animals (dogs, bunny rabbits, baby seals) and doing the same to unpopular animals (insects, small fish).  I do not! Both are living being capable of feeling pain.  I am not proud of past evil acts but they are not all that different from what Vick did. 

On the other hand I have never engaged in the irresponsible act of driving drunk as Stallworth did.  While I have done many stupid things that have harmed animals and endangered my own life (or the lives of willing participants), I have avoided acts that would endanger others.     

You're a credit to your species and a selfless advocate for other species... I'm sorry you felt such outrage over being lumped in with the rest of humanity.