Donte Stallworth sentenced to 30 days in jail, probation for 10 years and 1000 community service hours for killing a pedestrian while under the influence. Read more about the story plus photos and video of Donte Stallworth below.
Donte Stallworth: Sentenced to 30 Days in Jail
Donte Stallworth, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, was sentenced to 30 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to a DUI manslaughter charge in Florida.
The incident occurred back on March 14, after a night of drinking at a Miami beach hotel bar, when Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian with his black Bentley GT coupe, 59-year-old construction worker Mario Reyes, as he was walking across MacArthur Causeway. Stallworth’s blood alcohol content was .126. Florida’s legal limit is 0.08.
The plea deal allowed Stallworth to avoid up to 15 years in prison if he was convicted for DUI manslaughter.
In addition to Donte Stallworth being sentenced to 30 days in jail, he must also complete 1,000 community service hours and is on probation for 10 years. His driver’s license has been suspended for life as well.
“He cannot drive ever again for any reason. That is what the (victim’s) family wanted. The family urged us to do this.”
Stallworth has also settled monetarily with the Reyes family, with the figure kept confidential.
Readers, what do you think of Donte Stallworth sentenced to 30 days in jail? Leave me a comment plus see photos and video below.
Donte Stallworth Pictures
Donte Stallworth – Video
Photos: www.wenn.com
June 17th, 2009 at 3:24 am
This is an absolutely crazy way to handle this. I can’t even express in words how inappropriate this sentence is. HE SHOULD BE PUT IN JAIL FOR A FULL SENTENCE. Is it because he is a “football star”? Of course it is. The jack@#$ of a judge and jury must be Browns’ fans.
June 17th, 2009 at 3:38 am
I agree. There’s no amount of money that can bring a person back. Celebrities and crooked judges can and do get away with murder.
June 17th, 2009 at 4:12 am
Be for real!!!! Did he really do intentionally??? We all make mistakes. The family took the money, obviously the put a price on their love one’s life. He is being punished, he’ll be punished every day of his life. Really, he should never ever drive again. Come one!! Unless you were in the court room you really don’t know all the details. There are a lot of circumstances regarding this we don’t know about. You people are just reacting to this so seriously because he was a so called “celebrity”.
June 17th, 2009 at 4:37 am
No, you be for real!!!!!!! The guy made a decision to drink and drive and for that he killed someone. Of course we were not in the court room but as media has proven over and over again celeb’s do get away with a whole lot more then your average Joe. Whether intentional or not the fact remains he did murder someone and the judge let him get a way with it. Not knowing their situation, The Reye’s family should have recieved a monatary settlement regardless of the court hearing. That has nothing to do with putting a price on a loved one’s life.
June 17th, 2009 at 4:58 am
THIS ISN’T RIGHT NOR FAIR TO EVERYONE…HE SHOULD OF BEEN SENTENCE TO JAIL…IT DOESNT MATTER THAT HE’S A FOOTBALL PLAYER. EVERYONE SHOULD BE TREATED AND SENTENCE FAIRLY, YEAH EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN THAT THEY SHOULD LET HIM OFF EASLIY LIKE THEY DID! I JUST HAVE ONE THING TO SAY….THIS IS NOT FAIR
June 17th, 2009 at 5:13 am
Can we have some consistency in our courtrooms. I do understand that every case is different, but Micheal Vick recieved more time for fighting DOGS. A person life is more important than a dog? I am not getting this. Micheal should have got all this community service
June 17th, 2009 at 5:22 am
I can’t believe that he basically got a slap on the wrist for KILLING somebody!!!As a public figure he should be a role model for the kids. All the kids will get out of this story now is that you can take someone’s life and go about your business.
I believe in making mistakes and giving second chances, but when you are an adult and you get behind the wheel while drunk it’s no mistake. it is a decision. Mario Reyes will not have a second chance….
June 17th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Wow. I can’t believe that a judge actually put a price on death this low. This is really outrageous and I’m sure there will be some upheaval about this laughable sentence. I felt bad for Stallworth when it happened, but really felt sad for the victim and his family because he lost his life due to an irresponsible act by an irresponsible person. I’m sure the victim’s family feels outraged and dumbfounded by the judge’s decision. If I drink, drive and then run a man down a kill him, I’m looking at serious manslaughter charges and community service is not even an option. Stallworth is not even a superstar!!! Not that this would make any difference, but we’ve learned to expect privileged treatment in this day and age. Wow. Just, wow.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:48 am
I think the state’s attorney office who OK’d this deal and the judge should be sanctioned. This is a miscarriage of justice. So if anyone else does this and has the cash to buy off the family, they wil get the same sentence? Makes me want to hit the lottery, get loaded and then just drive around looking for someone to mow down. What’s a few million?
June 17th, 2009 at 6:58 am
It is always terrible. I do not understand the logic of a 30 day sentence when second time DUI offenders are facing one to two years when pulled over by law enforcement. I have seen repeat DUI offenders lose their right to drive. That can be overturned eventually. So – basically he will do a little volunteer work, get patted on the back for it, stay confined for 30 days and be making millions of dollars – You draw your own conclusions. I have drawn mine – If someone had done this to your daughter or son, shat would be your conclusion?
June 17th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Our society has evolved into one that gives preferential treatment to thoses that have money, or political influence.
He should serve time like everyone else.
Where are the victims rights?
June 17th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Well, it’s all just horrible — all of it. I certainly sympathize with Mr. Reyes’ family. Losing a loved one is tragic anyway, but in an accident like this, it’s doubly hard to bear. I can understand their pain and their anger. But you know what? I think Donte is a good person who made a mistake. I do NOT think his driving privileges should be taken away for the rest of his life. Probation, yes. Settlement with the family, yes. Apologies and regrets, who wouldn’t? Perhaps 30 days jail time. But a LIFETIME of no driving? NO WAY. He was in the wrong, it was an accident. I’ve seen people with malicious intent get lighter sentences than this.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Wow 30 days in jail. It looks like America cares more about dogs than the human race. This guy should of at least got 10 years, I know I would of gotten 10. VIck should of ran the dog over drunk maybe he would of gotten 30 days. Human life is gone because of one idiot being careless and driving drunk. What has this country come to. Land of opportunity, but dont hurt a dog.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:19 am
This is a total miscarriage of justice. The judge who handed down this sentence should be removed from the bench. It would be interesting to see the sentences he’s imposed on other, similar cases. Then we’ll know if he’s just a lenient judge or if he’s showing favoritism.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Have always said that to “murder”/”kill” someone in the USA, just get a bottle sit in your car and wait for victim to cross road and then oooops sorry about that.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:59 am
michael vicks does more time and pays a higher price for killing dogs. since when is a dogs life more valuable than a humans?
June 17th, 2009 at 10:38 am
this is crazy
he gets 30 days for killing somebody?! I think both parties (Stallworth and Reyes family) need some help. How could they take a settelement and let him get 30 days on prison? Wow so he can’t drive ever again..BIG PUNISHMENT. This is crap and it’s because he’s a football star end of story cz if that was me I probably would be lost in prison forever.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:20 am
The Reyes family took the money! Some of you are shocked that he got 30 days in jail after that!
The right thing to do is to refuse the money, go to trial get the proper sentence then sue him.
They took the money and are obviously happy with their decision. Now they can pay for poppas funeral and go buy a Bentley celebrate and get drunk and ….
The Judge did the right thing as far as I’m concerned.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I think this sentence was ridiculous. No need for me to go on a rant about how he’s walking because he has money..But he is walking because he has money,period. Sad Sad times we are living in…
June 17th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Are you all reading the story or just the punchline – he entered into a settlement agreement with the DA – sure the Judge could have rejected it but that is highly unlikely – also I doubt that he was just over the limit – if he had been he probably would have swerved my guess he was using a cell phone and looked up and could not stop in time and panicked – it might have been a mitigating factor to reduce it from manslaughter to negligent homicide anyways – unless you know all the facts you do not know why the DA acted as he/she did but at the end of the day the Judge just rubber stamped the deal, while I agree that it is a bit of a sweetheart deal noone can truly say that they wouldn’t have gotten the same deal without knowing all the facts and as for the difference between what Vick did and what Stallworth did – it is not that we value dogs more than humans it is that Vick acted with malice and an intent to harm and kill while I doubt Stallworth got into his car saying I am going to go kill someone
June 17th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Being a probation officer in a major metropolitan area of the north, I can say that this is actually a harsh punishment by compareable standards. I have supervised several vehicular manslaughter cases where the defendant never did more than a few days in jail, has less than 3 yrs probation, w/o any community service ordered. I’m not saying this star doesn’t derserve to serve life himself if for nothing more than taking that of another person . However, the reality of the criminal justice situation is often sad and disappointing.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Did Stallworth pay MADD off too. I don’t hear them screaming.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
good thing that he didn’t kill a dog…..two years and still counting the damage.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Wow, mercy on one hand then there still should be justice on the other.. A person lost their LIFE and it affects the liveS of the family who are left to suffer the lost… MONEY cannot repair or replace… It may help cover income that was once supplied by the one who died, but still … I believe in mercy but for real if it were my child that was killed – I would want the driver to be sentenced at least 3 years since it was not intentional, but he decided to drive drunk which was a risk to other & himself… he would still have to give the money for wrongful death cause by his negligence – & loose license for 10 years ! He Took a LIfe – accident yes but by his NEGLIGENCE that everyone know not to drive while drinking .08 compared to his level .126!
The Rich & Famous have a different set of rules – but we the majority allow it. Not enough protesting.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Deals….Deals…….And More Deals. Reminds me of a Banana Republic’s legal system played out right here in a country founded on the rule of law.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
WOW..who knew that a dog’s life would ever be more important than a HUMAN life!!???!! Not trying to beat a dead horse or anything, but Vick’s punishment far exceeded what this guy’s dealing with. And in what world is having your driver’s license suspended a punishment for someone who can afford a personal driver? Good job justice system…you really nailed this one!!!
June 17th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
What a joke…A man goes out and kills someone while committing a crime himself and all he gets is 30 days in jail? If you or I go out and commit murder we immediately face 15 years to life. What’s the difference if you use a gun or a car? The fact is you still committed murder no matter how you look at it. The fact is his status as a football player has steered the court decision. Money talks in a big way if you are a celebrity then if you are a regular everyday person in this world. You let this moron walk, after just 30 days in jail and in the 10 years he is on probation he can do it all again. What does the dead man get to do? He is 6 feet under and never gets to see his family again and his family has to worry about where his lost wages will come from. Hey Donte why not donate your millions to help support his family he left behind for your neglegents. Think about it every day as you pick up that next drink and decide it is ok to drive home…think about the family you destroyed. I hope it haunts you every last day of your existence.. I hope your career is over too…You dont deserve to play another down in the NFL.