NFL: Detroit Lions DT Nick Fairley sentenced for 2012 DUI
By Phil Watson
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was sentenced in absentia Thuirsday in Mobile, Ala., to a six months in jail, which was suspended, and one year’s probation related to charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving from 2012.
More from Detroit Lions
- Dan Campbell lets Lions fans breathe sigh of relief with C.J. Gardner-Johnson update
- Former Eagles safety, Lions star C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffers scary injury
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson sounds off on Eagles fans in NSFW rant
- Lions trade for risky potential Jameson Williams replacement
- NFL Power Rankings: Who is the best quarterback in each division?
WALA-TV in Mobile reported the sentencing, noting that Fairley was not present in court despite an order to appear.
Fairley’s attorney, Sid Herrell, said did not tell Fairley about the court date. Fairley was in Allen Park, Mich., of course, going through training camp with the Lions, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The prosecuting attorney wasn’t thrilled that Fairley’s appearance was waived.
"“The judge’s order was explicit that the defendant was supposed to be in court today,” assistant district attorney Spiro Chenogitis said. “He was not here. The judge, I believe, followed the rule as he believed it. … We think that the defendant should’ve been here today as the state ordered.”"
Fairley was also ordered to pay $750 in court fees and fines and to take two classes, one related to the DUI count and the other for the reckless driving charge.
Fairley has until Aug. 14 to appeal and Herrell indicated he planned to file for an appeal.
The fourth-year pro was arrested in his hometown of Mobile on Memorial Day weekend in 2012 for driving under the influence and for driving 100 mph. That came a little more than a month after he was arrested in mobile for marijuana possession after police claimed to have found two partially smoked joints in the ashtray of Fairley’s Cadillac Escalade.
The marijuana charge was dismissed after Fairley passed a drug test.
What’s not known at this time is whether—or how much—the NFL will discipline Fairley for the conviction. A league spokesman declined to comment to the Free Press on that topic.