An October 7th arraignment and plea hearing has been set for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison, who was cited last month in Los Angeles for suspicion of driving under the influence.
Addison was officially charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a .08% blood alcohol content, both of which are misdemeanor offenses. He was charged after a West Los Angeles police officer found him asleep at the wheel of a white Rolls Royce near the Los Angeles International Airport. He was cited at 11:36 p.m. and released from custody two hours later.
NFL Suspension Seems Likely
It seems likely that Addison will be able to avoid jail time with the help of a lawyer, especially since most first offense misdemeanor DUIs do not result in any extended jail time. However there is a good chance that he’ll face additional discipline from the National Football League if he is found guilty or pleads out to a lower charge. The NFL’s personal conduct policy states, “absent aggravating circumstances, discipline for a first offense will be a suspension without pay of three regular or postseason games.”
This was Addison’s first legal issue involving alcohol, although it wasn’t the first time he has run afoul with the law during his short time in the NFL. He was charged with reckless driving during his rookie season after being caught speeding at 140 miles per hour in Minnesota. Addison eventually pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor speeding and was ordered to pay $686 in fines. There’s a good chance he’ll face stiffer discipline this time around, but Addison appears ready to own up for his mistakes. He said he was ready to accept responsibility for his actions when speaking to reporters during Vikings training camp.
“Whatever’s out there for me, whatever comes with it, I’ll own up to everything. I feel like anything that comes my way is meant to happen or is deserved,” said Addison, adding that he plans to “learn from my mistakes and keep moving forward.”
Considering that his first appearance isn’t until October 7, and the court system can move notoriously slow, it’s certainly possible that the case doesn’t conclude until after the season, meaning that Addison may not face any league punishment until next year. And while the Vikings could also put forth their own punishment, odds are they’ll also want to wait until all the facts come out and the case is resolved.
We’ll keep tabs on his court case on October 7th unless there are any delays or plea deals that come about. In the meantime, if you live in the greater Twin Cities area and need help with a DUI or similar traffic charge, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 230-2700.
