Jerramy Stevens pleads guilty to reckless driving

KIRKLAND -- Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens pleaded guilty today in Kirkland Municipal Court to reckless driving, and is scheduled to be sentenced June 23.

Russell Joe, a prosecuting attorney for the city of Medina, moved to dismiss the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, which could have carried a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Joe and Stevens’ lawyer, Jon Fox, agreed to amend the DUI charge to reckless driving, with the agreement that Stevens will serve two days in jail as part of the deal.

Judge Albert M. Raines did not hand down a full sentence for Stevens at the end of the 20-minute arraignment. Raines said, despite Fox’s argument for sentencing at the hearing, that the court did not have a sufficient evaluation of the findings from the alcohol education program Stevens is currently attending. Raines set a sentencing hearing for June 23 in Kirkland.

Today’s arraignment stems from an incident early in the morning on April 3, when police stopped Stevens in his Land Rover after he rolled through a stop sign in a residential area. The police report described the smell of alcohol in the car and on Stevens’ breath, as well as two open bottles of champagne on the floor of the passenger seat.

Stevens was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, took a field sobriety test and later a Breathylzer test at the Clyde Hill police station in Bellevue, and was driven home in a patrol car.

By pleading guilty to a charge, Stevens gave up the right to a trial. The sentencing could include a fine and community service.

Stevens, dressed in a dark suit, did not say much during the proceedings. He listened while Raines told the courtroom that he was concerned about Stevens’ history of problems with alcohol.

"Until I get a second evaluation, I will hold off on sentencing," Raines said.

When asked by the judge for his thoughts on the matter, Stevens said, "I’m very happy no one was hurt in this incident," and told Raines he would fully comply with the sentence he will be given.

"I want you to think about some things, OK?" Raines told Stevens.

Fox asked the court for immediate sentencing because Stevens has another legal matter to attend to Thursday when he appears in a Seattle courtroom for a probation violation hearing. Stevens, 23, is also facing a future trial for sexual assault, as a woman filed a civil suit against him last week in King County Superior Court from an incident alleged to have taken place three years ago.

Stevens and Fox left the Kirkland courtroom without offering comment on the hearing.