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Stevens Spared Jail Sentence

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2007

TAMPA – Already on the lookout for a running back to replace Cadillac Williams and a left tackle to replace Luke Petitgout, the Bucs will not have to expand their search to include a tight end to replace Jerramy Stevens.

Stevens, who was found guilty in an extreme DUI case in Maricopa County, Ariz., last month, received a stay on his sentence today that should allow him to finish the season with the Bucs, according to the Arizona Republic.

Judge B. Monte Morgan sentenced Stevens to 12 days in jail and fined him $3,160 for his drunk driving and traffic violations but immediately stayed the sentence pending the outcome of an appeal.

The appeal, filed by James Nesci, Stevens' Tucson, Ariz., attorney, seeks to void Stevens' sentence or at least delay it until after the NFL season ends in January.

Stevens' conviction carried a 30-day mandatory jail sentence, but the amount of jail time could be reduced by the judge if Stevens agreed to spend time in a rehabilitation program.

Stevens, who has faced previous DUI charges, is currently involved in an NFL-sponsored rehabilitation program that includes more than 100 hours of one-on-one sessions with a medical doctor.

As a result of his involvement in that program, Morgan agreed to shave 18 days off Stevens' sentence.

Stevens' blood-alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent when he was arrested about 2:30 a.m., March 13 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Stevens told police he had ''four or five'' margaritas before he was stopped. And officers described his eyes as ''bloodshot'' and half-closed.

The Scottsdale arrest wasn't his first run-in with the law. In 2003 he faced DUI charges in Seattle, and two years earlier, was charged with hit-and-run after his vehicle crashed into a Seattle retirement home.

In other Bucs news, the team was rumored to be on the lookout for a replacement for Williams and possibly Petitgout, both of whom suffered knee injuries in last Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Bucs were rumored to be talking to the Minnesota Vikings about a deal that would bring backup running back Mewelde Moore to Tampa.

Williams, meanwhile, underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn right patellar tendon. The results of that surgery were not made available by the Bucs.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or at rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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