Williams Pleads Guilty

Plea in abeyance to underage drinking. Will be erased when he completes requirements of his probation. Trolls are already out in force on this development in Tribune Comments section.

Cougarbib wrote:
Plea in abeyance to underage drinking.

You're wrong on two counts. I can't blame you for saying he plead guilty---most of the newspapers made that same mistake. He actually plead no-contest, but I guess sports beat-writers don't get the difference.



The charge he plead to was not underage drinking--it was having measurable amount of alcohol on his breath. Big difference--one is a Class B misdemeanor (which is what he plead to) the other is a Class A misdemeanor and comes with double the penalties, but in jail time and fines.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/57923910-88/williams-byu-plea-football.html.csp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A BYU football player arrested in February for underage drinking has resolved his case by completing a substance abuse class and entering a guilty plea in abeyance to a Class B misdemeanor charge of having a measurable amount of alcohol on his breath.



According to court records, junior running back Jamaal Williams, who turned 19 on April 3, entered his plea on May 7 in Utah County Justice Court and was given credit for completing a "Prime for Life" course. He also paid $200 of a $300 fine.



A pleas in abeyance is an admission of guilt that is put on hold while the person charged completes the requirements ordered by the judge. Upon completion of the terms, the guilty plea is withdrawn and the charges are dismissed...

So I'm not claiming to be savvy to all the legal process, but as I read this he has been completing the requirements ordered by the judge and now that he has completed it the issue was resolved by having "the guilty plea withdrawn and the charges dismissed". So legally there is no issue anymore. I'd be shocked if the honor code office hasn't already been involved and taken care of things as he has been running track for BYU during the offseason. So there doesn't appear to be any major sanctions waiting to come down.

And if I'm not mistaken, a quick google search shows that Williams pled back in March--so this is simply the resolution--not some new plea.

Fido wrote:
And if I'm not mistaken, a quick google search shows that Williams pled back in March--so this is simply the resolution--not some new plea.

incorrect. The case was continued back then. Now it is clear why. It gave him time to complete the substance abuse program and thus work this plea deal. The article you quoted above is the same one I quoted. Read the whole thing.



This is a new development. He got probation as part of this plea bargain. He still needs to complete the probation. Then the plea in abeyance will be erased and his record will be clean.



But, yes, the HC Office has probably been involved every step of the way.



SNO indicates that The Trib reported this incorrectly and that he pleaded No Contest. Not sure how he knows that and it really makes little difference - no difference in the end, if he completes his probation. SNO is correct that the Plea Bargain let him plea to a lesser charge.



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