Retired NFL star Richard Sherman is getting good news in his drunk-driving case.
Responding to a request by Sherman’s attorney, a Washington judge has agreed to a deferred prosecution, King County (Washington) Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told ESPN.
The current Amazon Prime football analyst and long-time Seattle Seahawks cornerback can now have the charge suspended if he is able to meet certain court requirements.
As reported by ESPN, Washington State law requires any defendant who requests a deferred prosecution to blame their conduct on substance abuse disorder or mental-health issues as well as agreeing to two years of treatment.
Sherman can avoid a trial by meeting that requirement, but any failure to do so will result in a jury trial to determine his guilt.
Furthermore, Sherman is also getting a five-year probation and the arrest will count as a prior offense in the event of any future DUI charges.
Richard Sherman looks on from the set of the TNF on Prime pregame show
Richard Sherman is best known for his role in Seattle’s ‘Legion of Boom’ secondary
‘The deferred prosecution represents Mr. Sherman’s commitment to working past any issues with alcohol or other issues that could have led to this incident,’ Sherman’s attorney, Jon Fox, told TMZ Sports.
‘It is not a treatment program for alcoholism, but it is comprehensive. As allowed by law, the granting of the deferred prosecution represents the judge approving what has been proposed, which take five years. On successful completion and strict compliance, Mr. Sherman will have earned the dismissal of the charges.’
Sherman was picked up on February 24, 2024 when a Washington State Patrol officer claimed to have observed the 37-year-old married father driving ‘back and forth’ within his lane at speeds of up to 79mph. Police say Sherman’s eyes were bloodshot and he admitted to having two margaritas before refusing a Breathalyzer test, according to multiple reports.
However, he did partake in a field sobriety test, which he reportedly failed, leading officers to take him into custody. Two hours later, after police got a warrant, his blood-alcohol level sat at 0.11, exceeding the legal limit of 0.08.
Those test results were revealed by the Washington State Patrol crime lab, leading local prosecutors to charge Sherman in June.
He’d previously pleaded guilty to negligent driving and criminal trespass over a 2021 incident in which he was accused of driving into a closed construction site and fleeing the scene before allegedly attempting to break into his in-laws’ Washington home.
A red duffel bag was also seen during a break in at Richard Sherman’s Seattle-area home
Sherman is best known for his role in Seattle’s ‘Legion of Boom’ secondary, which helped the team to win Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. The Stanford grad went on to play with the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
These days, Sherman is an analyst for Prime Video’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ broadcasts, and also serves as a panelist on FS1’s Undisputed.
More recently, Sherman’s family home was robbed by armed thieves who have been targeting athletes in the Seattle area.
Prosecutors in Seattle revealed a series of key clues they’ve used to charge a 21-year-old man with a string of high-profile burglaries of local athletes’ homes.
The alleged burglary ring is accused of hitting the residences of current Seattle Mariners stars Julio Rodriguez and Luis Castillo, club legend Edgar Martinez, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and Washington native Black Snell, as well as Sherman.
