Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - More Bucs = More Trouble!

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

While this season has been an umitigated disaster for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at least the players are still getting in trouble like champions! This follows a long line of Tampa Bay arrests that we have blogged about here before (see here, here, here, here and here...Also here, here and here (Did I mention the Bucs are getting arrested a lot)?

Postscript: As of this writing, the charges against this player looks like they will be dropped...

TAMPA — The victim of a severe beating said Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount was "the leader" of the assault and directed the two men who attacked him, according to a Tampa police report.

The report said Blount refused to cooperate with the investigation of a possible felony battery, which took place in the parking garage of his apartment complex.

Blount, 25, was not charged in the Sept. 11 incident, nor was he accused of any direct violence.

Blount's attorney said his client "didn't do anything. There was an altercation, but it didn't involve LeGarrette. He wasn't ring-leading anything. But what LeGarrette does do is play in the NFL.

"When this guy found out who he was,'' the attorney continued, his (the victim's) attorney called the Bucs and asked for $95,000 in compensation and warned that if that was not forthcoming, the attorney would go public. The request was rejected.

According to the police report of the incident, the victim, 34, and his girlfriend, 29, both wearing Bucs shirts, drove a 2008 Toyota pickup into the Visconti at International Drive apartments not far from Raymond James Stadium about 6:30 p.m. They were returning from that days' Bucs game against the Detroit Lions.

Their pickup hit the mirror on a 2005 Ford Expedition, next to which Blount and two men were standing. The "victim" told police he did not want to stop next to the Expedition because his pickup would block traffic. He pulled around a corner, stopped and rolled down his window.

He said the Expedition came around the corner and cut him off. Three men got out and one of them "reached in and punched me several times on his eye, nose and jaw,'' according to the report. The man "realized a second male was on his hood and was jumping onto his windshield and ultimately shattering the glass."

The "victim" said the third man "was the leader and directed the actions of the other two.'' The girlfriend supported that version of events.

The man told police "the third male was very large." That man, who turned out to be the 6-foot, 247-pound Blount, never hit anyone or touched the victim's pickup, the report said.

The man told police he feared he had a broken nose. He "also stated that his jaw is misaligned and he believes his jaw bone is swollen or displaced because he cannot chew food.

When police contacted Blount, he made a statement about the crash but days later would "not discuss his involvement in the'' attack, according to the report.

The report said police did not pursue possible charges of "burglary for the purpose of committing battery, felony battery and felony criminal mischief'' at the man's request.

Blount perceived the man to be drunk that day. Police noted beer cans in the bed of his truck. In January 2008, the victim was arrested and accused of DUI. The charge was later reduced to reckless driving.

The man told police investigating the September incident that he went to the Bucs game with friends and was the designated driver, a detail that his girlfriend, supported.

The victim said in a statement released Tuesday night that he just wanted to recover his "medical expenses and damages." His attorney later denied that this was a "money grab," adding: "The facts … in the police report clearly reflect that our client was the victim of severe bodily injury and property damages."

Blount, who played college ball for the University of Oregon, gained unwanted national attention in 2009 after his team lost its season opening game to Boise State 19-8. TV cameras caught him sucker punching a Boise player. Oregon suspended Blount for most of that season.

Blount, despite the apparent battery, has no criminal record in either Oregon or Florida.

No NFL team picked Blount in the 2010 NFL draft. He signed as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans and got into a practice field fight with a teammate. Tampa Bay picked him up after he was released by the Titans. He was the Bucs' leading rusher last year.

Buccaneer communications director issued a statement that said: "LeGarrette Blount immediately informed the organization of this situation back in September. We have reviewed the incident report and spoken with the police. The Tampa Police Department confirmed that the case is closed."

Have you or a loved one been arrested for a battery or a DUI? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!

For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense lawyers please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Bucs Marijuana Bust!

By Nick Dorsten, Esq.

It should not be a surprise after the multiple arrests from the Tampa Bay Bucs football team (also see here, here, and here) but here is another one from the st. pete times website...

TAMPA — Arcilla Alexander Magee, a defensive end with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was cited for marijuana possession at a traffic stop Monday afternoon.

At about 1:15 p.m., an officer pulled over Magee's 2009 black Dodge Charger at Kennedy Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue for having an expired tag, according to the Tampa Police Department.

While talking to Magee, the officer smelled marijuana, searched the car and found a small amount of the drug.

Magee, 24, was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and driving with an expired tag. Because the amount of marijuana warranted only a misdemeanor charge, the officer issued Magee a citation and a court date and let him go.

If it feels like you've seen this headline before, that's because you have.

Yes, another Tampa Bay Buccaneer was arrested on Monday. This time, it was defensive end Alex Magee, who was cited by Tampa police after an officer allegedly found a small amount of marijauna in Magee's car during a traffic stop.

Not to get preachy here, because this is far from the most egregious offense an NFL player has been accused of. But what's important here is the context. The Bucs are under tremendous pressure to erase the appearance that theirs is a team with a discipline problem.

The questions are more than fair. This is the fourth member of the organization arrested since March, beginning with pro scouting coordinator Shelton Quarles (DUI), cornerback Aqib Talib (aggravated assault with a deadly weapon) and coaching assistant Jay Kaiser (DUI). Combined with a series of arrests and troubles last year that include the felony drug arrest of former tight end Jerramy Stevens and the one-year drug suspension of safety Tanard Jackson, and it's not hard to see where the reputation comes from.

The point is, this was a very bad time for Magee -- a promising but still marginal player -- to have this happen. To say that people associated with the franchise are going to be on a short leashes probably goes without saying. Will Magee be cut once the lockout is lifted and NFL teams can resume making roster moves? Well, that's far from a given.

But don't be surprised if the Bucs, at some point, start cracking down in a more public fashion. They know fans are watching. And, more important, so is commissioner Roger Goodell.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for marijuana possession or DUI and are in need of a criminal defense lawyer? Then call the law offices of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email info@BlakeDorstenLaw.com for a free consultation with a criminal defense attorney.

We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104, Clearwater, FL 33762, off 275, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - come ON Bucs!! Part 2

By Nick Dorsten, Esq

Part 2 of our continuing Bucs saga (Part One is here). From the TampaBay.com website...

TAMPA — Texas police obtained felony arrest warrants Tuesday for Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib and his mother in connection with a shooting in Garland, Texas, last week.

Talib, 25, will be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. His bail was set at $25,000.

Talib, considered one of the team's best defensive players, is expected to surrender this week, Garland Police spokesman Joe Harn said.

Talib's arrest could jeopardize his career with the Buccaneers, or any other National Football League team. He has had several off-the-field incidents since being chosen in the first round of the 2008 draft and was suspended by the league for one game last season after being accused of punching a St. Petersburg, FL cab driver in 2009.

"We are deeply troubled by the serious charges filed against Aqib Talib," Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said in a statement. "Due to current labor circumstances, we will withhold any further comment or action."

Because of the current work stoppage in the NFL, teams are prohibited from contacting players or making transactions, including releasing players. However, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said last week the league's player code of conduct will cover transgressions that occur during the lockout and be enforced when a new labor agreement is reached.

Talib's mother, Okolo, turned herself in Tuesday morning and was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, based on a previous conviction. Bail was set at $25,000 for the assault charge and $5,000 for the possession charge.

The arrest of Talib and his mother stems from their roles in a domestic disturbance March 21 involving his sister, Saran, 43, and her boyfriend, Shannon Billings, police said.

Police said they arrived in the 900 block of Green Pond Drive in Garland, a Dallas suburb, at 7:30 p.m. after a 911 caller reported fighting, including gunshots. Police said they found Billings, 40, alone outside his residence.

According to a report Monday in the Dallas Observer, which cited the Garland police and two unnamed sources familiar with the case, Talib attempted to pistol-whip Billings with a handgun, which was dropped in the struggle. Billings picked it up and began running. Okolo produced another handgun and fired at least three times before Aqib used it to fire twice more at Billings, according to the report.

Harn, the police spokesman, said information detectives gathered at the scene and in follow-up investigations led police to conclude Aqib physically assaulted and then fired shots at Billings, who was not injured.

Billings, who is a registered sex offender in Texas, later was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with bodily injury and interference with an emergency phone call, relating to an incident at his address earlier in the day.

In Texas, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a very serious charge, said a lawyer from a Dallas criminal defense firm.

Though Talib could be eligible for community-control probation instead of prison if he has no prior felony offenses, the criminal defense lawyer said, many factors play into that decision and "it would be more difficult if a firearm is actually discharged at an individual."

Probation for a second-degree felony runs up to 10 years. For Talib to keep playing for the Bucs during that time if that was a penalty he received, Florida authorities would have to agree to supervise his community control. Officials for the Florida Department of Corrections could not be reached for comment as to whether they would agree to supervise a Texas probationer.

The arrest warrant is the first step in criminal proceedings. The Dallas County state attorney's office will have to decide whether the evidence is sufficient to take the case to a grand jury to try to get an indictment.

Harn estimated that it would take four to six weeks for a grand jury to hear the case against Talib.

Talib's talent never has been in question, but the Bucs, under the direction of former coach Jon Gruden and former general manager Bruce Allen, may have ignored numerous red flags before deciding to draft him.

Talib's off-field problems surfaced while he was a standout defensive back at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas. Talib was arrested in April 2004 for burglary, according to Dallas County court records, but the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, and Talib received two years of probation.

During interviews with teams at the NFL scouting combine in 2008, Talib said he tested positive for marijuana three times while playing at the University of Kansas, according to the magazine Pro Football Weekly.

From the start of his pro career, Talib has had difficulty controlling his emotions, resulting in significant fines from the Bucs and last year's one-game suspension. Bucs coach Raheem Morris has called Talib his "wild child."

Shortly after being drafted, Talib got into a fight with then-teammate Cory Boyd at the NFL's rookie symposium. In May 2009, Talib inadvertently hit former Bucs cornerback Torrie Cox in the face with a helmet, which he was swinging at left tackle Donald Penn during an argument. Cox required stitches to close a cut.

Last year, Talib agreed to a deal with prosecutors to resolve a battery charge after he was accused of hitting a St. Petersburg cab driver while Talib was a passenger in the cab. He was ordered to perform community service and attend anger management classes. He also reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the cab driver.

Despite missing five games last year, the last four with a hip injury, Talib was named the NFL alumni's defensive back of the year after recording six interceptions, giving him 15 in his three-year career.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for a criminal charge or a battery? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!

For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Pinellas criminal defense lawyers please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - come ON Bucs!!

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

Had enough with the Tampa Bay Bucs yet? As previously written about here, here, here and here, the hits just keep on coming. This one involves Talib... (courtesy of the Tambabay.com website

TAMPA
Police in Texas describe Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib as "a person of interest" in their investigation of a domestic disturbance last week in which shots were fired.

No arrest has been made, but Garland, Texas, police spokesman Joe Harn said the department is determining whether Talib should be charged in connection with his role in an incident March 21 involving his sister and her boyfriend.

"I will confirm he is a person of interest," Harn told the St. Petersburg Times on Monday. "This is still an open case. Once the detectives have decided, probably later this week, if there are charges that need to be brought against him or not, because of the high-profile interest in this case, we'll have an announcement."

Talib, 25, was suspended one game last season for assaulting a St. Petersburg, Florida cab driver in 2009 and could face further sanctions from the NFL from his involvement in the incident.

Players are subject to the league's personal-conduct code during the owners' lockout of players, commissioner Roger Goodell said last week.

The Bucs are not permitted to have contact with players or their representatives during the work stoppage. Bucs coach Raheem Morris declined comment while at a charitable event in Valrico.

According to a blog on the website of the Dallas Observer, the altercation occurred a week ago near the home of Talib's sister, Saran, 43, in the 900 block of Green Pond Drive in Garland. Talib reportedly attempted to pistol-whip her boyfriend, Shannon Billings. After a struggle, Talib used the handgun belonging to his mother, Okolo, to fire several shots at Billings, who fled on foot and was not injured, police said.

Police were called by neighbors reporting a domestic dispute. Harn said Monday that Billings, 40, was taken into custody and arrested two days later on an unrelated charge.

Dallas County jail records indicate that Billings was arrested on charges of assault with bodily injury and interfering with an emergency call. Billings remains in jail after failing to post $2,500 bail.

Billings is a registered sex offender with the Texas Department of Public Safety. In 1998, when he was 27, he was convicted of sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl and served probation.

Talib lives in north Dallas. He went to his sister's home about 7:30 p.m. and found her arguing with Billings, police said. Saran had called her mother for help, and police were notified by neighbors of three shots fired at a black man by a black woman.

Billings told police Talib brandished a handgun and attempted to strike him in the face with it. During the skirmish, Talib dropped the gun and Billings picked it up and began running. Okolo then produced a gun and fired three shots toward him. Billings told police Talib took Okolo's gun, said, "I'll shoot him," and fired at least two shots before Billings safely ducked into nearby woods. The Observer reported that witnesses corroborated Billings' story.

Harn declined to confirm or deny details in the Observer's story but said, "I don't know where (the Observer) got all its information."

Supremely talented but troubled, Talib has been dogged by personal-conduct issues that followed him to the University of Kansas and contributed to his falling in the 2008 NFL draft. He was picked 20th overall by Tampa Bay.

Talib was named the NFL Alumni's defensive back of the year in 2010.

Talib has had difficulty controlling his emotions, resulting in significant fines from the Bucs and one league suspension. Morris has called Talib his "wild child."

Shortly after being drafted, Talib got into a fight with then-teammate Cory Boyd at the NFL's rookie symposium. In May 2009, Talib inadvertently hit former Bucs cornerback Torrie Cox in the face with a helmet, which he was swinging at left tackle Donald Penn during an argument. Cox required stitches.

Last year, Talib agreed to a deal with prosecutors to resolve a battery charge after he was accused of hitting a St. Petersburg cab driver. He was ordered to perform community service hours and attend anger management classes and reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the cabbie. Talib received a one-game suspension from the NFL last season for the 2009 incident.

Last week's shooting incident in Texas could draw the attention of Goodell.

"The personal-conduct policy continues," Goodell said at last week's owners meetings. "It applies to everybody in the league. I don't know how it would apply to the players under this circumstance (the lockout), but it's something that I feel strongly about, that we owe to our fans."

It's expected that the league will administer discipline after the lockout for violations that occur during the work stoppage.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for a criminal charge or a battery? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!

For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Pinellas criminal defense lawyers please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - more Bucs Part ??

By Nick Dorsten, Esq.

You think in the off season, it would be quiet but hot on the heels of past Tampa Bay Buc arrests previously talked about ( here, here, here and here), now courtesy of the St. Pete Times website even more Bucs in trouble!

TAMPA — Shelton Quarles, the Bucs' pro scouting coordinator and a former Pro Bowl linebacker with the team, was arrested on a DUI charge early Friday.

Police arrested Quarles, 39, about 2:30 a.m. on Interstate 275 near Himes Avenue. Police saw a black Audi with the headlights off going 79 mph in a 55 mph zone. When they pulled Quarles over, police said, he "had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and bloodshot eyes."

Quarles showed other signs of impairment during field sobriety tests, police said. He refused to submit to a breath test and was taken to jail without incident. Bail was set at $500.

A member of the Bucs' Super Bowl XXXVII championship team, Quarles played 10 seasons for Tampa Bay from 1997 to 2006.

After his retirement, Quarles was hired as a pro scout. In January, he was promoted to coordinator of pro scouting.

"We are aware of the matter and are reviewing it," Bucs communications director Jonathan Grella said.

If convicted, Quarles could face further discipline from the NFL or the Bucs. Commissioner Roger Goodell has punished players and team administrators for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Goodell imposed a $100,000 fine and 30-day suspension to Lions president Tom Lewand after his DUI arrest in June.

Quarles always has been known for his charitable efforts in the community. His Impact Foundation helps single-parent families. He recently raised more than $130,000 to benefit the foundation with the Shelton Quarles Celebrity Waiter night. He also hosts a pro-am as part of the PGA Transitions golf tournament in Palm Harbor.

Ex-Bucs TE Stevens arrested after fight

Former Bucs tight end Jerramy Stevens was arrested Thursday night on a felony battery charge involving two bar bouncers in Tampa.

His bail was set at $2,500, and he was released from jail.

Stevens was at Duke's Retired Surfer's Island Bar, 5210 Tyson Ave. W, about 8 p.m. when he became unruly and was asked to leave by bouncers. Police said he refused and punched two of them, William Donald Russell, 23, and Vincent Jordan, 35, who then held Stevens on the ground until officers arrived. Jordan was taken to Tampa General Hospital with a possible broken jaw.

Stevens' attorney released a statement to the St. Petersburg Times that offered a vigorous defense of Stevens and portrayed him as the victim.

The attorney said Stevens had to be treated at a hospital after his release from jail where he "received treatment for multiple broken ribs and extensive bruising to his body and face. Initial medical reports reflect his wounds are defensive in nature," he wrote.

"We are confident that when the dust settles everyone will realize that not only is Mr. Stevens innocent but more importantly the wrong person was arrested," he added.

The Bucs released Stevens, 31, on Oct. 25 after he was arrested on a felony charge of marijuana possession with intent to sell and drug paraphernalia. He has had multiple arrests during his career.

We expect a criminal football team from the Oakland Raiders or the Cincinnati Bengals, not our home town team!

Have you or a loved one been arrested and are in need of a criminal defense lawyer? Then call the law office of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. at (727) 286-6141 for a free consultation with a criminal defense attorney.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Bucs charged again

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

In what is becoming an embarassing problem, the hometown Tampa Bay Bucs added to their string of arrests with yet one more, article courtesy of the St. Pete times

TAMPA — Former Bucs quarterback Shaun King was arrested early Sunday on a DUI charge.

King, 33, of St. Petersburg, was stopped at 2:12 a.m. on U.S. 301 and Holland Road in southern Hillsborough County, according to jail records. He refused to take a blood-alcohol test. He was released about 10 a.m. Sunday after posting $500 bail.

King played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1999 to 2003. He later was an analyst for ESPN and more recently was hired as an analyst for Bright House Sports Network and co-host of an afternoon show on WQYK-AM 1010.

King appeared Monday as usual on his weekday radio show. He addressed the issue briefly at the top of the show, mostly thanking those who have called him with support.

"As most of you know, I was involved in a very unfortunate circumstance over the weekend,'' King told listeners. "I can't comment on it, but I definitely appreciate the support.''

As shown above, this is just the most recent of arrest for former or current Bucs players. Previous Bucs have been arrested for drug possession, DUI, disorderly conduct and assorted other charges.

Have you or someone you loved been charged with a DUI? Do you need the help of a St. Petersburg Criminal Defense lawyer or Clearwater DUI attorney? Then Call Blake & Dorsten, P.A. today!

For more information, or to speak directly with experienced criminal defense attorneys, please contact the law firm of BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email your questions to: info@blakedorstenlaw.com

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - more Bucs Part 2

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

Here we go again...For those that missed it, here is Part One in the ongoing saga of the hometown football team that is making the Oakland Raiders look like choir boys. The story comes from the St. Petersburg Times...

TAMPA — Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes was arrested early Monday morning on charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing, according to jail records.

Hayes, 23, was jailed shortly after the 2 a.m. arrest at the Blue Martini, 2223 N Westshore Blvd. in International Plaza. The alleged incident happened hours after the Bucs defeated the Washington Redskins on the road Sunday.

Police used a Taser on Hayes after he became aggressive with police during an incident that started with another man, according to police. Hayes overheard a security guard wouldn't let his friend into the lounge for being underdressed. Police said Hayes pushed a police officer (but was not charged with battery of a law enforcement officer) out of the way to stand between her and two disruptive men.

Police said the man denied entry was verbally abusive, and police directed Hayes back into the lounge and forced the other men to leave.

Instead, police said Hayes stayed at the lounge entrance, "menacingly staring" at the officers and guards who made his friends leave. Police eventually led him to the parking lot and told him not to return or he could be arrested for continuing disorderly conduct.

Hayes was back 10 minutes later. He said he'd left his credit card, and police told him to sit at a nearby store while a friend looked for the card.

Bar employees told police they overheard Hayes saying, "B-tch a-- cop. You ain't gonna do nothing. I ain't leaving. I don't have to leave."

An officer ended up using a Taser on Hayes because he continued to be combative and refused to leave, police said. His thick clothing made the device ineffective, and an officer tackled and handcuffed Hayes.

He was booked at 3:35 a.m. and released on bond at 5:12 a.m., according to records.

Hayes, a 6-foot-1, 226-pound former Florida State University standout, was drafted by the Bucs in 2008 and became a starter in 2009, replacing Derrick Brooks. He has started all 13 games this season, amassing 61 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and an interception.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said: "We're disappointed Geno put himself in this situation, are currently reviewing it and will handle the matter accordingly.''

In a news conference on Monday, Bucs coach Raheem Morris said: ""You talk to your team about making good decisions all the time, you're frustrated with anything that diverts attention from your team. So obviously you're frustrated with that and diverting away from us being positive and 8-5."

"The frustration is that we're not talking about the plays Geno made yesterday," Morris said. "We're talking about the incident after the game."

Morris said the Bucs will handle Hayes' discipline internally and there are no plans to suspend the linebacker.

"Geno will be here Sunday," Morris said. "We'll handle our discipline in house like we always do."

Have you or a loved one been arrested and are in need of a criminal defense lawyer? Then call the law office of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation with a criminal defense attorney.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - more Bucs Part 1

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

Fresh off the heels of other Tampa Bay Buccaneers who got in trouble with the law (see here, here and here)comes one more, this a former player and one of the bigger NFL draft busts in history!

St Pete Times:

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round draft pick Keith McCants was arrested on a possession of cocaine charge early Wednesday as he was driving out of a strip club parking lot, police said.

McCants was pulling out of Tina's House of Angels, 3080 34th Street N., about 12:15 a.m. because he failed to stop while leaving a private drive, said police spokesman Mike Puetz. They also noticed that McCants and a passenger, Christina Shamika Campbell, 28, were not wearing their seat belts.

After they stopped the car, police saw a crack pipe in the center console of McCant's 1999 Chevy Tahoe. After searching the vehicle, police found one piece of crack in Campbell's purse.

Police arrested McCants and Campbell and seized the vehicle.

The 42-year-old former linebacker and defensive end's address was listed as 6291 Bahia Del Mar Circle in St. Petersburg, Florida, though he has had a string of arrests in Alabama over the past few years.

McCants, who was the fourth overall pick in the 1990 NFL draft but was cut after three seasons, has a history of legal troubles. Most recently, McCants was arrested on a charge of attempting to purchase drugs at a hotel in Mobile, Ala., in April. Mobile police also arrested him on use and possession of drug paraphernalia charges in June, according to the Mobile Press-Register.

In 2008, police in Alabama used a Taser on McCants after he threw a pair of pliers, a screwdriver, and a crack pipe at an officer, nearly hitting the officer in the head, according to reports. He was not charged with battery of a law enforcement officer.

McCants, who was one of the nation's top college defensive players when he attended the University of Alabama, was considered one of the biggest draft busts in Bucs history. He started in 25 of the 47 games he played with Tampa Bay, then went on to play a couple more years with the Houston Oilers and Arizona Cardinals.

St. Petersburg Police arrested McCants and booked him into the Pinellas County Jail at 2:12 a.m., according to records. He remained in jail Wednesday morning.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for a drug charge or a DUI? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!

For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense lawyers please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - another celebrity DUI

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

Hopefully this won't become a pattern but not even a month after a Tampa Bay Buccaneer was arrested for drug possession, another player got arrested for drinking and driving according to an article in the St. Pete Times website.

TAMPA — Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout rookie wide receiver Mike Williams was arrested on a DUI charge early Friday.

Williams, 23, was arrested about 2:48 a.m. near U.S. 301 and Causeway Boulevard, according to jail records. He was booked at 4:44 a.m. and released at 8:04 a.m. after posting $500 bail.

Williams was driving a black Cadillac 57 mph in a 45 mph zone and weaving between lanes, said the Hillsborough County sheriff's spokesman.

Two Breathalyzer tests found his blood-alcohol level at .065 and .061, records show, below the limit of .08 at which the state presumes impairment.

But Williams failed a field sobriety test, smelled of alcohol and appeared to have glassy eyes per the reports. A urine test was conducted and results are pending, he said. A urine test is done if a deputy suspects a driver is impaired by a substance other than alcohol.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers officials said Williams will travel to San Francisco Friday with the team and play in Sunday's game against the 49ers.

Head coach Raheem Morris said the decision to let Williams play was tough.

"I'm very disappointed about the bad decision that he made to be out late and about the worse decision he made to drink and drive," Morris said Friday. "I was very pleased with his ability to be cooperative and not be disrespectful and make this thing even worse than it could be.

"It happens. It hurts our fans. It hurts our team. It hurts everybody on this football team. But Mike Williams not playing this weekend would hurt the fans more."

Officials aren't saying what impact the charge will have on Williams for the rest of the season.

"Right now we have a young team that's trying to search for the longevity," Morris said. "If he wants to be a part of that longevity, he certainly has to clean up his act."

With blood-alcohol results below .08, a case against Williams could be tough to prosecute, said a Tampa DUI defense attorney who is not connected to the Williams case. Urine test results are typically not a strong indicator of whatis in a driver's system at the time of the arrest. And the test results often take four months or longer to obtain. Often, a DUI defense attorney will ask for a speedy trial within 90 days, which is not enough time for a prosecutor to get the results.

The field sobriety test is a tool for law enforcement to use to determine if someone's normal faculties are impaired, but it's also not a strong enough indicator to prosecute someone, the lawyer said.

"I've never seen anyone pass the field sobriety exercises,".

Williams leads all rookies in receiving yards, ranks second among rookies in receiving touchdowns and has started all nine games this year for the Bucs. He has 40 receptions this season for 627 yards and five touchdowns. He averages 15.7 yards per catch. His longest reception this season was 58 yards.

His best game this season was against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 31 when he nabbed four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

The Bucs are 6-3 this year and tied for second place in the NFC South, one game behind the Atlanta Falcons.

The Buccaneers picked Williams in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He missed all of the 2008 season at Syracuse University after he was caught cheating on a test.

He missed part of the 2009 season after he was involved as a passenger in a car crash. Although the driver in the other car was faulted, Williams was suspended for violating curfew. It was the second curfew violation for Williams, and he left the team with five games left. He later said he left because of miscommunication with his coach.

Williams is the second Bucs player to run afoul of the law this season. The Bucs ended TE Jerramy Stevens' controversial tenure with the team Oct. 25, releasing the veteran two days after he was arrested on two felony marijuana possession charges.

Bucs' safety Tanard Jackson was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Sept. 22 for violating its substance-abuse policy. He is not eligible for reinstatement until Sept. 22, 2011.

Cornerback Aqib Talib was suspended for the season opener for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, stemming from a 2009 arrest. Talib was arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida in August 2009 and charged with punching a cab driver while en route to the team hotel in Tampa. The case was not adjudicated until April.

A common misconception when dealing with DUI cases is the myth that police will let you go if your breath alcohol level is below a .08. In reality, Florida law presumes you are guilty of DUI if you are .08 or above. If you are in the .061-.065 range like Mike Williams that tends to neither prove or disprove the state of his impairment. Rather, the jury is supposed to take into account ALL the factors such as demeanor, driving pattern, field sobriety results, etc.

This article mentioned that his urine was tested for drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine or prescription medication. If he did have drugs in his system, depending on the amount and type, the state attorney may try and argue that the alcohol combined with the drugs resulted in a synergistic affect. In other words, the alcohol mixed with the drugs made him under the influence due to the two substances combining.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for a drug charge or a DUI? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!

For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense lawyers please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.