Michigan football player Darryl Stonum sentenced to two years probation in drunken driving case
Michigan wide receiver Darryl Stonum was sentenced this morning in 15th District Court in Ann Arbor to two years probation for operating while visibly impaired second offense.
He also received a suspended sentence of 365 days in jail, meaning that if he violates that probation he could be put behind bars.
Stonum, 21, who was suspended from the team after being arrested during a traffic stop last month, pleaded guilty to the charge last week.
Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, a charge of driving with a suspended license is set to be dismissed provided Stonum successfully completes a strict sobriety court program.
Stonum declined to comment during sentencing. Judge Julie Creal told Stonum, "I think this is a great opportunity for you to grow up."
Stonum said, "Yes, ma'am."
Creal continued, "And recognize your responsibilities to society. We've had this conversation before and I'm sure we'll have it again."
Stonum
Stonum was arrested at 2:25 a.m. May 6 by University of Michigan police after a being pulled over on State Street. A breath test at the police station revealed he had a blood-alcohol level of .11. Another test showed he had a blood-alcohol level of .13.
In Michigan, it's illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher. Court records show Stonum also was ticketed Thursday morning by Ann Arbor police for driving with a suspended license. Stonum's attorney, Doug Lewis, said at today's sentencing that Stonum was simply moving the car so he didn't get a parking ticket.
Stonum, who is from Stafford, Texas is entering his senior year.
It's not the first time he's been in legal trouble. In September 2008, during his freshman year, police charged him with operating a vehicle while visibly impaired, and he was subsequently jailed for three nights in July 2010 for multiple probation violations.
As part of today's sentence, Stonum must submit to daily breathalyzer tests, random drug screens and is prohibited from driving for 45 days.
Lee Higgins is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
zip the cat
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 2:09 p.m.
I guess he didn't listen to the judge about not driving for 45 days. Todays detroit news paper says he was busted just the other day for driving on a suspended license. Really learned a lesson. Just thumbed his nose at the courts. Lock him up for a year and be done with him
1st Down
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 11:31 p.m.
2 DUI and allegedly getting a ticket this week for driving with a suspended license... Look... we all knew regular students, non-athletes who in college did stupid things and got arrested... a lot of students do stupid things. But to repeatedly do it, suggests a pattern of personal behavior that is dangerous (to that person and others) and needs to be corrected through therapy or other means. Stonum always had football talent, but has a history of dumb behaviour at Michigan. He needs to get that straightened out first, in order to be able to have a successful next 60 years of his life. IMO it is time for Michigan football to cut bait with Stonum. Honor his scholarship and let him finish his schooling, but no more football for Stonum. Its time for both parties to move on. Michigan to develop other players who are more deserving of the sholarship at the WR position....and Stonum to get his life together and plan for life in the real world beyond football....which will be happening very soon (he is not an NFL caliber player). Good luck to him.
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 8:08 p.m.
Kicking him off the team could be a bad move. It's not the football team's job to punish people. Let the courts do that. It's the football team's job to develop young men to be productive leaders. Just because somebody is on the team, doesn't mean they will play. We can keep Stonum on the team and use coaching techniques to help him become a better man. I can not foresee any argument that would change my mind on this matter. Punishing people is not the football team's job. Kicking Stonum off the team is not best for the team, or best for Stonum... so why would anybody suggest that?
1st Down
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 11:33 p.m.
It is a privilege to play football at the University of Michigan, earned under certain requirements.
Tally10
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 6:24 p.m.
I think keeping Stonum on the team and in school could be a success story for the young man if he do what he needs to do to turn things around, and also, a teaching tool for the Football ( or any ) program as a whole. I'll be willing to bet that he's not the only player on the team that drinks and have driven after drinking, he's the player/person that was caught in the act. Sports' society promotes the use of alcoholic beverages, it's sold in the stadiums and bars, we drink during tailgating. Do you think any of these people are driving home after the game? Yes. Many arrests could be made on any given Saturday. Not excusing Stonum's actions, but kicking him off the team is not going to help him or solve the problem. Many college students and athletes have gone on to become successful Professionals after going through similar situations to Stonum. COME ON, WE REMEMBER COLLEGE LIFE...THANK GOD IT WASN'T US!!!
Ron Granger
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 5:45 p.m.
Is that really a typical sentence for a second offense? It seems odd that a second offense would result in no jail time, and a brief restriction on his driving of only 45 days. And his first offense was at the age of 18. And, clearly, if he was just ticketed for driving on a suspended license he has not learned any "lesson".
trespass
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.
This is the same sentence as other citizens of Ann Arbor get for a similar second offense. The DUI program was set up several years ago to stress treatment over incarceration. Mr. Stonum's probation officer was asked about the suspended license offense and he says that since Mr. Stonum was not put on probation until Friday the offense will not count as a probation violation. Although, I agree that he has not learned his lesson.
trespass
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 5:13 p.m.
I think a lot should depend on his student status and not on his athletic ability. If he is making progress toward graduation then I think a redshirt year may be appropriate. Football can be the carrot if he really has prospects as a student. The coaches had it all wrong when they made him get up at 4 AM to do two hour conditioning workouts. That was not only a NCAA violation (see last years violation #2) but it also sends him the message that his priority for getting back on the team is athletic prowess. Make him go to class and perform well instead. The Judge said it was time to grow up. Taking his classes and his degree seriously is more indicitive of growing up than 4 AM workouts. If the Coach is a Michigan man, he will make his decisions based on what is best for his students and not what is best for his won/loss record. Go talk to Joe Paterno.
trespass
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 5:29 p.m.
@KeepingitReal- I believe you are wrong because I asked the NCAA and they said it was a violation to use conditioning work outs as punishment and I believe the Coaches put a stop to the work outs when they got a call from the UM compliance department.
KeepingItReal
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
The NCAA allows its football teams to impose this type of disciplinary action when a player has put themselves into a situation like this. Therefore, it is not a violation
tater
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 4:52 p.m.
After being pulled over yesterday for driving on a suspended license, I can't imagine Stonum still being on the team in September. I originally thought he had an alcohol problem, but it is starting to look like he just doesn't understand that you have to at least stay on the Bell Curve when it comes to following rules. I would imagine that Brady Hoke already knows something that Jim Tressel just learned the hard way: players who think that they are exempt from the same rules that "everyone else" follows can break your heart and take your program down. It looks like Darryl Stonum has finally found a situation that he can't "smooth over" with his personality. Good luck in your future endeavors, Darryl: I hope you learn a valuable lesson before it's too late.
semperveritas
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 4:14 p.m.
i don't know young mr stonum, but i don't THINK it's in his best interest to be separated from the team. I doubt very seriously that he'd remain in school and wonder what life we'd be consigning him to. i hope that coach hoke makes a decision based upon what is best for the kid. i'm not saying that he necessarily starts or even plays----but don't deny him the opportunity to remain part of the team. and for sure let's not make a decision based upon what osu or msu or anyone else might do -------their precedent (or lack thereof) has no bearing on what happens in A2.
Hailmary
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:29 p.m.
There are different therories regarding this situation one being that the young man is ill (alcoholic) and should not be allowed to play this violent sport which has in itself a large degree of stresses and pressures to do well. Maybe the stress of playing at a school like Mich. is to much for the young man and that's why the poor judgement to drive while intoxicated. Well anyways, what I think matters little to this young mans future. I'm sure Brady Hoke knows the college football world is interest to see how he, Brady handles this obstacle. I would be curious to see what the team would say if they had a vote. The players that voted him to stay would have some responsiblility to keep him walking a straight line. Either way, young Mr Stonum is fortunate that he didn't kill anyone. My therory is that the young man has to attend a long term rehab and then see about his playing ball next year if he does well in a long term say, 6 month program. He would have to live at the facility and be supervised by adults.
KeepingItReal
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
I for one am glad to see that Stonum got probation instead of jail. However, I was disappointed to here that he got a traffic violation for supposedly "moving his vehicle to avoid a parking ticket". Sound fishy. I hope that he understands what is going on and make the appropriate adjustments in his life to avoid these silly mistakes. I Hope Coach Hoke keeps him suspended right up to one of two games into the season just to make sure that he gets it. The judge and the prosecutor's office deemed it worthy to suspend his sentence and allow him to continue rehabilitation. I would strongly encourage Stonum to join a Twelve Step Program in the area. There are lots of them and he will be able to find one that fits into his schedule.
truebluefan
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
Stonum was just ticketed the other day for driving with a suspended license. What is this, strike number four now? Sorry guys, but any hope for a redshirt season and comeback next year have gone bye bye. IMO, Hoke needs to boot him from the team now. He'll look like a hypocrite if he doesn't. He's a good WR but we have many others that can step up this season. Hemingway, Roundtree, Stokes, Odoms and Jerald Robinson is a solid group.
SemperFi
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.
This kid doesn't get it. Drunk driving, a 2nd time. Then, when your license is suspended, you drive anyway. That is a total disregard for law the safety of others. Sorry, not good enough to wear the Maize & Blue.
heartbreakM
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:48 p.m.
I personally would favor redshirting him this year, and if he stays clean during that time, let him back on to play fully as a member next year. Proof will be in the results. I do think it is a very serious thing he did, potentially deadly. It is a problem that many students face (overdrinking) and he showed extremely poor judgment. Kicking him off is conceivable, as he is a representative of the University but sometimes, working with these young men is better than to release them. It is not clear, but that's what I favor at this time.
lugemachine
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 7:32 p.m.
Don't think that's doable. You may redshirt a player if injury renders him/her ineligible to play for all (or virtually all) of the season OR if it is a first-year player who never sees the field of play. A redshirt can't be granted on a whim (e.g. disciplinary benching).
Bob
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:42 p.m.
Good idea!
Mush
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
I can see how kicking Stonum off the football team may benefit opponents, but assuming he continues to do what he's supposed to do on the football field, how does it benefit Stonum, his teammates, his coaches, the university or fans?
Mush
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
"previously unquestionable integrity"? You may want to do some research on the Fab Five, Larry Harrison, Adam Stenavich, Marlin Jackson, Daniel Horton, Red Berenson, James Whitley, Adrian Arrington, Mario Manningham, Glen Rice, Braylon Edwards, Kevin Quick and why U of M got kicked out of the Big 10 in 1907. If Stonum passes his classes, does what he's asked to do on the field, and avoids most of what the folks above did, that's good enough for me. Let the kid play.
SemperFi
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
He's not demonstrating any type of leadership or responsibility. That kind of behavior is a cancer and will infect others on the team. It's what he does on the field, in the locker room and off the field that impacts the program. Keeping him on the team is short-sighted. Get him away from the program, FAST.
David Vande Bunte
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:57 p.m.
It sends a message to the rest of the team, that unlike when the WCIMFH was in charge, at Michigan, you play by the rules, period, that breaking NCAA rules OR breaking the law is not tolerated. This is about restoring Michigan's previously unquestionable integrity. Sometimes harsh lessons have to be learned, and Stonum is a repeat violator. If you repeatedly violate state law, why should I believe you won't violate team or NCAA rules?
Mick
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
Darryl, get it done young man if you want to be on the team. How far did he have to move his car to get ticketed like that? Are they staking out waiting for him to drive? How else does one get ticketed moving their car to avoid a parking ticket? The whole thing sounds weird, I just hope he earns his way back on the team, but only if he deserves it. I don't care how good of a player he is, he needs to earn it. Good luck with that Darryl, Go Blue!!!
Forever27
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2 p.m.
the punishment fits the crime. Unfortunately, I think Mr. Vande Bunte is right in that it might be time for UM and Mr. Stonum to part ways. Stonum has some serious thinking about his life and his priorities to do. Let him stay in school and finish his degree, but he shouldn't be allowed to represent the university in a football uniform anymore.
David Vande Bunte
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
I think it's time for Darryl Stonum and the University of Michigan's football team to part ways. We Michigan fans spend a lot of time mocking all of the troubles over with lil' brother, about how so many of their players get in trouble with the law and then they get let right back on the team, as if nothing happened. Well, if Brady Hoke lets Stonum back on the team, aren't we just as bad? I am one of those old school mentality fans who believes that playing college football is a privilege, not a right, and that Stonum lost that privilege. One DUI is bad enough, but forgivable as a dumb kid doing a dumb thing (even if you completely ignore the fact that his first issues with alcohol came while he was under 21) but a second offense shows he didn't learn anything. Can he help the team offensively? Certainly. That doesn't mean he should be on the team though. If we start ignoring all of the stupid things Wolverines players do, while continually mock when stupid things are done by Spartans and Buckeyes especially, and sacrifice tradition and honor just to field the best possible team, we end up no better than Ohio State. Darryl Stonum had a chance to continue to be part of the single greatest football program on Earth, and blew it.