New England Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation by a Nebraska judge Thursday, according to Boston.com.
Dennad was arrested in April 2012 for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
His sentence will include 100 hours of, “law enforcement related" community service. He will also have to request permission to travel outside the state for activities related to his football career.
Dennard’s sentence is scheduled to start March 1, 2014; after the upcoming NFL season. When he begins his sentence he will already have credit for serving three days of his sentence.
The NFL cornerback has accepted the terms of his sentence. Dennard has apologized to his family, friends, coaches, as well as, his fans. He also offered an apology to Ben Kopsa, the officer he assaulted.
Dennard was arrested only a few days before the Patriots drafted him in 2012. He was charged with assaulting a police officer, misdemeanor resisting arrest and misdemeanor assault. Assaulting a police officer is a Class 3-A felony in the state of Nebraska.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini both wrote letter to judge Stephanie Stacy in support of Dennard.
The trial lasted a week and he was found guilty.
Although Dennard chose not to comment on the sentencing, his defense lawyer Terry Doughtery said he was pleased the sentence.
“Glad he got probation, that was the appropriate sentence,” Dougherty said. “Disappointed for [him to get] jail time.
“You’ve got a guy with a spotless criminal record and what I guess I’d have to characterize as not a serious injury to the police officer and is a very low risk for being a repeat offender,” he said. “That strikes me as a guy that you can give probation to without any jail time. That’s fine. What he has to do now is abide by the terms of the probation and the reason I asked the question about whether we can go back in March and ask her to consider an additional suspension of the sentence and perhaps not ever actually have him serve the 30 days was to let the judge know that I think he’s going to do fine and she ought to take that into consideration.”
Doughtery requested a suspended sentence for Dennard if he follows of the rules handed down to him until March 1, 2014.
There is still no word on whether or not the NFL will take action against Dennard as well.
The Patriots cornerback recorded three interceptions and had 35 tackles during the 2012 season.
