Flagstaffsooner
8/11/2006, 04:52 PM
Evaluation ordered; bond on robbery charge revoked
Associated Press
http://adsatt.espn.go.com/ad/sponsors/ESPN_In_House_Marketing/Aug_2006/espn-146x46-0044.gif (http://log.go.com/log?srvc=sz&guid=C90F4115-1965-4E04-850C-E273054E8CA2&drop=0&addata=1332:275:245133:65&a=1&goto=http://mobile.espn.go.com/?campaign=mobile&source=ESPN_ROS_146x46_Football_Switch_30Day150Sig ning)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Maurice Clarett was ordered to have a mental health evaluation following a bizarre and violent encounter with police in which the former Ohio State football star was caught with four guns after a highway chase.
http://espn-att.starwave.com/photo/2006/0811/nfl_a_clarettfriday_275.jpg
AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato
Maurice Clarett was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation over the objections of Clarett and his attorneys.
The judge delayed a trial set to begin Monday on previous charges in which the player is accused of holding up two people outside a bar on New Year's Day.
Judge David Fais ordered the evaluation against the wishes of Clarett and his attorneys, citing the events surrounding the arrest early Wednesday.
"I clearly understand everything and I don't know why we have to drag this thing out," said Clarett, who scoffed, smiled and rolled his head back when Fais announced his ruling.
Clarett, who wrote a few notes to his attorney while his hands were cuffed, said he was ready to go to trial. His girlfriend, who gave birth to the couple's daughter last month, and his mother sat in the courtroom. They declined comment outside.
Fais said he was concerned by Clarett's attorneys saying in published reports that they were worried about his mental health. A Call for Help?http://espn.go.com/media/nfl/2005/0423/photo/a_mclarett_m.jpgClarett
On possibly his last night as a free man, Maurice Clarett was calling on the telephone. I hadn't seen him or heard from him in a year, not since the Denver Broncos kicked him to the curb, but I was on his list Tuesday night.
I looked at the clock when he called, and it was just past 11 p.m. ET. He told me he was driving somewhere, and along the way his cell phone cut in and out. He wasn't loud or belligerent. Instead he seemed melancholy and possibly drunk. ...
To read more on Clarett's late-night phone call to ESPN The Magazine's Tom Friend, click here (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=2545078).
Gene Wojchiechowski:
Holmes doesn't know this Clarett
Santonio Holmes and Maurice Clarett entered Ohio State together. But while Holmes is a Pittsburgh Steeler, an unfamiliar Clarett is in jail, writes ESPN.com's Gene Wojchiechowski. To read more, click here (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2545291).
ESPN Radio weighs inDan Patrick, ESPN The Magazine's Tom Friend and Mel Kiper discussed what is going on with Maurice Clarett on Thursday. To listen to their take on the ESPN Radio Daily, click here (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2546878&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines#). http://espn.go.com/i/espnradio/05/listen.gif
"It's my job. I have to ensure that your rights are protected," Fais said.
Prosecutors supported the decision for the evaluation. Defense attorneys twice objected, saying they were confident Clarett was competent to stand trial.
"We do not wish to see these proceedings continue at all," attorney Michael Hoague told the judge.
The evaluation could have been done over the weekend to avoid delaying the trial, Hoague said afterward.
"Instead of having the possibility of being acquitted this time next week, he'll be in jail," he said.
Fais also revoked Clarett's $1.1 million bond on the charges, meaning that Clarett figures to remain in jail until the new trial date of Sept. 18.
Clarett's latest run-in with the law began when police noticed a vehicle driving erratically, prompting a chase that ended with police spiking the SUV's tires. Officers said they could not easily subdue Clarett because he was wearing a bulletproof vest that thwarted their stun guns.
After several police using pepper spray finally got him into handcuffs, the 6-foot, 245-pounder continued to struggle, kicking at the doors of the transport vehicle. Officers also secured a cloth mask over Clarett's mouth after they say he spat at them.
Clarett was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and a traffic violation, and police said more charges are possible. Bond on those charges was set at $5 million, which Clarett's attorneys said he likely would not be able to pay.
He was driving a few blocks from the home of a woman scheduled to testify against him in his robbery trial. In that case, witnesses said Clarett flashed a gun and robbed them of a cell phone behind a Columbus nightclub.
Fais said he thought allowing time to pass between the highway chase and Clarett's trial on the robbery charges would be beneficial. The delay also will give the court more time to draw the larger jury pool that will be necessary to find impartial people because of the publicity surrounding the case, he said.
As a freshman, Clarett scored the winning touchdown in the second overtime of the Fiesta Bowl against Miami to lead Ohio State to the 2002 national championship. It was the last game he played for the Buckeyes.
He was suspended for the following season after being charged with falsely reporting a theft to police. After dropping out of school, he unsuccessfully challenged the NFL's draft eligibility rule.
The Broncos made him a surprise third-round pick the following year, but he was cut during the preseason.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
I think this may be in order.:pop:
Associated Press
http://adsatt.espn.go.com/ad/sponsors/ESPN_In_House_Marketing/Aug_2006/espn-146x46-0044.gif (http://log.go.com/log?srvc=sz&guid=C90F4115-1965-4E04-850C-E273054E8CA2&drop=0&addata=1332:275:245133:65&a=1&goto=http://mobile.espn.go.com/?campaign=mobile&source=ESPN_ROS_146x46_Football_Switch_30Day150Sig ning)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Maurice Clarett was ordered to have a mental health evaluation following a bizarre and violent encounter with police in which the former Ohio State football star was caught with four guns after a highway chase.
http://espn-att.starwave.com/photo/2006/0811/nfl_a_clarettfriday_275.jpg
AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato
Maurice Clarett was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation over the objections of Clarett and his attorneys.
The judge delayed a trial set to begin Monday on previous charges in which the player is accused of holding up two people outside a bar on New Year's Day.
Judge David Fais ordered the evaluation against the wishes of Clarett and his attorneys, citing the events surrounding the arrest early Wednesday.
"I clearly understand everything and I don't know why we have to drag this thing out," said Clarett, who scoffed, smiled and rolled his head back when Fais announced his ruling.
Clarett, who wrote a few notes to his attorney while his hands were cuffed, said he was ready to go to trial. His girlfriend, who gave birth to the couple's daughter last month, and his mother sat in the courtroom. They declined comment outside.
Fais said he was concerned by Clarett's attorneys saying in published reports that they were worried about his mental health. A Call for Help?http://espn.go.com/media/nfl/2005/0423/photo/a_mclarett_m.jpgClarett
On possibly his last night as a free man, Maurice Clarett was calling on the telephone. I hadn't seen him or heard from him in a year, not since the Denver Broncos kicked him to the curb, but I was on his list Tuesday night.
I looked at the clock when he called, and it was just past 11 p.m. ET. He told me he was driving somewhere, and along the way his cell phone cut in and out. He wasn't loud or belligerent. Instead he seemed melancholy and possibly drunk. ...
To read more on Clarett's late-night phone call to ESPN The Magazine's Tom Friend, click here (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=2545078).
Gene Wojchiechowski:
Holmes doesn't know this Clarett
Santonio Holmes and Maurice Clarett entered Ohio State together. But while Holmes is a Pittsburgh Steeler, an unfamiliar Clarett is in jail, writes ESPN.com's Gene Wojchiechowski. To read more, click here (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2545291).
ESPN Radio weighs inDan Patrick, ESPN The Magazine's Tom Friend and Mel Kiper discussed what is going on with Maurice Clarett on Thursday. To listen to their take on the ESPN Radio Daily, click here (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2546878&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines#). http://espn.go.com/i/espnradio/05/listen.gif
"It's my job. I have to ensure that your rights are protected," Fais said.
Prosecutors supported the decision for the evaluation. Defense attorneys twice objected, saying they were confident Clarett was competent to stand trial.
"We do not wish to see these proceedings continue at all," attorney Michael Hoague told the judge.
The evaluation could have been done over the weekend to avoid delaying the trial, Hoague said afterward.
"Instead of having the possibility of being acquitted this time next week, he'll be in jail," he said.
Fais also revoked Clarett's $1.1 million bond on the charges, meaning that Clarett figures to remain in jail until the new trial date of Sept. 18.
Clarett's latest run-in with the law began when police noticed a vehicle driving erratically, prompting a chase that ended with police spiking the SUV's tires. Officers said they could not easily subdue Clarett because he was wearing a bulletproof vest that thwarted their stun guns.
After several police using pepper spray finally got him into handcuffs, the 6-foot, 245-pounder continued to struggle, kicking at the doors of the transport vehicle. Officers also secured a cloth mask over Clarett's mouth after they say he spat at them.
Clarett was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and a traffic violation, and police said more charges are possible. Bond on those charges was set at $5 million, which Clarett's attorneys said he likely would not be able to pay.
He was driving a few blocks from the home of a woman scheduled to testify against him in his robbery trial. In that case, witnesses said Clarett flashed a gun and robbed them of a cell phone behind a Columbus nightclub.
Fais said he thought allowing time to pass between the highway chase and Clarett's trial on the robbery charges would be beneficial. The delay also will give the court more time to draw the larger jury pool that will be necessary to find impartial people because of the publicity surrounding the case, he said.
As a freshman, Clarett scored the winning touchdown in the second overtime of the Fiesta Bowl against Miami to lead Ohio State to the 2002 national championship. It was the last game he played for the Buckeyes.
He was suspended for the following season after being charged with falsely reporting a theft to police. After dropping out of school, he unsuccessfully challenged the NFL's draft eligibility rule.
The Broncos made him a surprise third-round pick the following year, but he was cut during the preseason.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
I think this may be in order.:pop: