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Hambrick Takes Plea Deal

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By TODD LESKANIC, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 15, 2008

Updated: 01/14/2008 10:03 pm

DADE CITY - Darren Hambrick's third foray into the criminal justice system ended much the same as his first two.

Monday, the former NFL linebacker pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor battery stemming from a 2006 altercation at a Trilacoochee nightclub. Hambrick agreed to plead guilty in exchange for the judge withholding formal adjudication and six months' probation.

The withheld adjudication means Hambrick's record will not show the convictions if he completes a 13-week anger management class, pays $190 in court costs and any restitution to the two victims.

A restitution amount had not been determined as of Monday.

The deal was struck shortly before attorneys in the case were to begin selecting a jury for trial. Hambrick's attorney, Aldo Ojeda, said taking the offer made more sense than gambling on a jury decision. "We didn't feel the need to risk going to trial, especially when the possibility of incarceration was significant," he said.

A misdemeanor battery conviction carries a maximum punishment of a year in the county jail, a $1,000 fine and one year of probation.

Hambrick, 32, was accused of hitting Brian Thomas and Larry Brown during a disagreement at the Illusions nightclub on Oct. 13, 2006. Illusions used to be known as Rumors.

According to a Pasco County sheriff's report, Hambrick first approached Brown, who was grilling hamburgers outside the club, and kicked over his grill. The two argued, then went in the club to speak with the owner and tell him what happened.

Inside, Hambrick began arguing with Thomas, a bouncer, while Brown went back outside to clean up the grill. Hambrick and Thomas continued to argue and the fight moved back outside the club. Hambrick then walked over to Brown, cursed at him and pushed a table into him.

Hambrick told investigators he was upset that Brown was cooking outside the club without permission. He said alcohol played a large part in his starting the fight.

The incident was Hambrick's third brush with the law since 1999. That year, he was charged with fleeing from law enforcement in Lacoochee. Three years later, he was charged with stealing $5,682 from the Carolina Panthers when he cashed a check on which he had requested payment be stopped. Both times, Hambrick accepted plea deals in exchange for probation and withholds of adjudication.

Hambrick starred at Pasco High School and went on to play five seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns. He has been out of the NFL since 2002. Hambrick was signed by the Arena Football League's Tampa Bay Storm in May, but was released a few weeks later. Ojeda said Hambrick works in the trucking business.

Reporter Todd Leskanic can be reached at (352) 521-3156 or tleskanic@tampatrib.com.

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