Mariotti and his leather jacket won’t be playing “Prison Break” since he has accepted a plea deal that won’t include any jail time.
The LA Times has the report:
ESPN sports personality Jay Mariotti pleaded no contest Thursday to one count of misdemeanor domestic violence in connection with an incident in August in which police said he grabbed and pushed his girlfriend.
As part of a deal reached with the Los Angeles city attorney’s office, Los Angeles County Court Commissioner John Green agreed to dismiss the remaining six misdemeanor counts against Mariotti that included four domestic violence related counts, grand theft and false imprisonment.
Mariotti avoids jail time and was instead placed on three years probation and required to perform 40 days of community labor, said Frank Mateljian, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney’s office. He must also complete a 52-week domestic violence course and stay away from the victim in the case.
In essence Marrioti admits to strong arming his girlfriend (persumable she is an ex-girlfriend now) and he gets a slap on the wrist. As long as he keeps him temper in check he will be fine.
I have no problem with him resuming his duties on ESPN and Fanhouse. Everyone makes mistakes and he shouldn’t be punished indefinitely.
Hopefully he has learned a lesson (I doubt it), he will stay off the police blotter, because now he has a record like many of the athletes he his written about over the years.
Not as fun when you are on the other side of the bars.