Kansas Metropolis Chiefs star extensive receiver Rashee Rice was sentenced to 30 days of jail time and 5 years probation Thursday for his position in a multicar crash final yr.
In response to a launch from the Dallas County District Legal professional's workplace, Rice pleaded responsible in district courtroom to 2 third-degree felony fees — collision involving critical bodily harm and racing on a freeway inflicting bodily harm.
A Dallas district courtroom choose dominated that Rice can serve the jail time at any level throughout the five-year probationary interval. Rice obtained deferred adjudication, sources instructed ESPN's Adam Schefter, so the case will likely be dismissed if he completes the probation.
Earlier than his plea settlement, Rice additionally paid over $115,000 in restitution to the victims of the March 2024 crash for his or her medical bills, in accordance with the district legal professional's workplace.
The NFL now can expedite its disciplinary strategy of Rice, who's more likely to obtain a multigame suspension in some unspecified time in the future throughout the upcoming 2025 season.
“We have now been carefully monitoring all developments within the matter which stays underneath evaluate,” NFL vp of communications Brian McCarthy instructed Schefter.
Rice, in a press release launched Thursday by his legal professional, mentioned he's “profoundly sorry for the bodily damages to particular person and property.”
“Final March, I used to be concerned in a high-speed accident in Dallas,” Rice mentioned in his assertion. “There have been loads of sleepless nights fascinated by the damages that my actions induced, and I'll proceed working inside my means to guarantee that everybody impacted will likely be made entire. I urge everybody to thoughts the pace restrict, drive secure and drive good.
“Final and positively not least, I'm profoundly sorry for the bodily damages to particular person and property. I absolutely apologize for the hurt I induced to harmless drivers and their households.”
Police mentioned Rice was touring at 119 mph in a Lamborghini sport utility automobile shortly earlier than the Might 30, 2024, crash in Dallas.
Dallas district legal professional John Creuzot mentioned in a press release that Rice was “lucky to have walked away unhurt” and that he hopes Rice “takes this as a possibility to mature and leads by instance transferring ahead.”
“When somebody with Mr. Rice's public platform chooses to drive so recklessly, there's a duty to acknowledge the hazard posed to others and take accountability,” Creuzot mentioned. “A automobile within the unsuitable fingers could be as harmful as any weapon. We're extraordinarily lucky that no lives had been misplaced that day, and Mr. Rice is lucky to have walked away unhurt. We hope he takes this as a possibility to mature and leads by instance transferring ahead. I want him the perfect in making safer decisions.”
Rice, 25, suffered a torn proper ACL in Week 4 final season and missed the rest of the Chiefs' AFC championship marketing campaign. The Chiefs anticipate the 2023 second-round draft decide to be wholesome when coaching camp begins subsequent week.
