STILLWATER, Okla. — Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick Justin Blackmon pleaded guilty, through his attorney, Tuesday to a drunken driving charge.
Blackmon was not in the courtroom and defense attorney Cheryl Ramsey appeared in Payne County District Court on his behalf.
Special Judge Michael Stano accepted the plea to misdemeanor aggravated DUI and deferred formal sentencing for a year. If Blackmon fulfills the sentence's terms he will avoid jail time.
Stano also fined Blackmon $500 and ordered him to complete 50 hours of community service. The judge ordered Blackmon to have an interlock device put in his car, which will prevent it from starting if the driver has been drinking. Ramsey said the device would likely be in his vehicle for two years. Blackmon was also told to have a DUI evaluation and complete a victim impact panel. Ramsey said Blackmon already completed the evaluation and no recommendations were made. Ramsey said his community service will be completed in Florida where her client plans to work with children.
Blackmon, 22, was charged with aggravated DUI after Stillwater police said they spotted him driving 60 mph along a city street, where the speed limit was 35, and swerving into the oncoming lane. Police said the driver didn't stop for four blocks after they began pursuit.
Ramsey said her client is incredibly embarrassed and apologized in person to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL team that drafted him.
"He is absolutely mortified that this occurred and that he had such bad judgment, " Ramsey said. "It will not happen again."
Ramsey said the DUI assessment was made by a psychologist and it was determined he does not have an alcohol problem and this was a one time event of poor judgment. During a June news conference following his Stillwater arrest, Blackmon swore off drinking. He had been arrested on another alcohol-related charge in Texas in October 2010 when he was a member of the Oklahoma State Cowboys football team.
"He is very amenable to do what he needs to to put this behind him and play football," Ramsey said.
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