Prosecutors charge Stallworth with DUI manslaughter
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Miami-Dade prosecutors have charged Donte Stallworth with DUI manslaughter for an accident in South Florida.
On Wednesday, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced that the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office has criminally charged the Cleveland Browns wide receiver for the death of Mario Reyes, who was crossing a street.
Stallworth is set to appear before a judge tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. to face the charges, which carry a 15-year sentence behind bars, if convicted. Even with a plea deal, a conviction would mean mandatory jail time, considering the manslaughter charge.
An attorney for Reyes' family released the following statement: "The family is encouraged by the fact the criminal investigation surrounding Mr. Reyes' tragic death is proceeding. The family will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement..."
Stallworth's arrest affidavit said bond will be set at $200,000 and detailed the conditions of his release, which include no use of alcohol or drugs with random drug and alcohol testing through the NFL's Program for Substance abuse.
Pending his trial, Stallworth will have to give up his passport and reside only in Cleveland and Miami, where he is to consistently report to the pre-trial services in those cities. If he must travel within the U.S. he must advise pre-trail services 24 hours in advance.
Stallworth will also be under a curfew between the hours of 12 midnight and 6 a.m. He is also not allowed to drive.
About two weeks ago, a source with knowledge of the investigation revealed exclusively to Channel 7 that Stallworth's blood alcohol level was one to two times over the legal limit when he struck and killed a pedestrian in Miami Beach, on March 14. Police have since revealed his BAC was somewhere right in the middle, at .126.
On that fateful Saturday morning, at about 7:15, Stallworth was headed toward South Beach when he struck and killed the 59-year-old Reyes with his Bentley on the MacArthur Causeway. Reyes, a construction worker, was heading to a bus stop after getting off of work.
According to the arrest report, Miami Beach Police said, Stallworth had been drinking at Club Liv, which he had left about two hours prior to the accident. He then went to a Miami Beach residence, where he stayed about an hour before heading eastbound on the MacArthur.
According to the police report, Stallworth told the officers he honked his horn at Reyes and flashed his lights at him before he hit them. He also admitted to police he struck him, stating, "I'm the driver of that car. I hit the guy on lying on the road."
After police said they noticed alcohol on Stallworth's breath and saw that his eyes were bloodshot, police performed a field sobriety test on Stallworth, which a passerby recorded on home video. Stallworth also cooperated with a blood test, which the responding officers administered on the scene.
On March 1 last year, Stallworth signed a $35 million contract with the Browns. He previously played with the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles.
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