Minnesota Vikings and ex-USC receiver Jordan Addison will avoid jail time for his DUI citation a year after the CHP found him asleep at the wheel and blocking traffic near LAX.
Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison will avoid jail time for his 2024 DUI citation after pleading no contest to a lesser charge Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The former USC standout was arrested in July 2024 when a California Highway Patrol officer found him sleeping behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce that was blocking traffic near Los Angeles International Airport.
Addison pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor drunk-driving charges in December; those charges were dismissed Thursday after Addison entered a no-contest plea to the charge of "wet reckless driving upon a highway."
"While Mr. Addison's case would have made for a great trial, I admire him for taking responsibility by accepting the City Attorney's 'wet reckless' offer," Addison's attorney, Jacqueline Sparagna, said in a statement. "Now he can put this incident behind him and solely focus on his promising career."
Addison was sentenced to 12 months' probation and is required to pay a $390 fine and complete two online courses. In a statement posted to X, Addison's agent Tim Younger said the expectation was that "his probation will be terminated early in six months."
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"Over the past year, he voluntarily participated in MADD events and programs and, after reflection, decided to enter this plea understanding the ramifications of this decision," Younger wrote. "He has kept the organization apprised throughout these legal proceedings, and will continue in his full commitment to being a valuable member of his team."
Had Addison been convicted on the charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with 0.08% blood-alcohol level, he could have faced up to six months in jail, been fined up to $1,000 and had his license suspended for as long as 10 months.
According to the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse, Addison still could face a three-game suspension without pay, with some “aggravating circumstances” allowing for a harsher penalty. The league said in a statement Thursday that the matter "remains under review."
Addison spent the first two years of his college career at the University of Pittsburgh, winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award for best receiver in the country after catching 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns during the 2021 season.
After catching 59 passes for 875 yards and eight touchdowns at USC the following season, Addison was selected by Minnesota at No. 23 overall in the 2023 draft. He has 133 catches for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns in two seasons with the Vikings.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Category: General Sports
