Jacksonville Jaguar’s Justin Blackmon Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Driving Under the Influence

First round pick Justin Blackmon contract negotiations with the Jacksonville Jaguars have become more complicated, as they are temporarily stalled due to a recent incident involving the NFL first-round draft pick football player. The incident occurred earlier in the off-season when Justin was stopped, arrested, jailed and eventually charged with Driving Under the Influence [DUI].

The soon-to-be rookie was not only charged with a DUI, he was charged with an Aggravated DUI. In the state of Oklahoma, Aggravated DUI is defined as having a blood alcohol level at .15 or higher, which, coincidentally, is nearly two times the nationwide legal limit.

As a result, due to the fact that Justin’s Blood Alcohol level registered at a .24, which is three times the nationwide legal limit his charge was received the added distinction of “aggravated”. However, he does receive the same punishment and fine as the regular DUI.

To make matters worse, on the evening of the arrest, Justin was actually administered two blood alcohol tests, with the first registering at .24 and the second registering at .26, which is more than three times the nationwide legal limit.

Add that to the fact that Justin was driving at 60 MPH in 35 MPH speed limit zone, and you have a recipe for potential disaster. Fortunately, there was no collision involved, only speeding, although that is reckless enough.

Meanwhile, a search revealed this was not Justin’s first arrest, nor first DUI. In 2010, while a stand out wide receiver for Oklahoma State University, Justin was arrested on a Driving Under the Influence complaint. Subsequently, Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State University coach suspended him for a single game.

Because this is, in fact, Justin’s second Driving Under the Influence arrest, many are indeed questioning his maturity level regarding his entering professional athletics.

Moreover, although Blackmon’s initially entered a plea of not guilty, on Monday July 23, 2012, in his absence, his attorney Cheryl Ramsey entered a plea of guilty on his behalf.

In lieu of an actual Aggravated DUI conviction, Blackmon was given a one year deferred sentence, plus a $500 fine and 50 hours of community service. If Blackmon complies with the community service, pays the fine and does not get in any trouble for an entire year, it will be as if the DUI did not ever exist, as it will be removed from his permanent record.

Spokespersons for Blackmon revealed that he is apologetic for his actions and promises to abstain from drinking for now.

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