Jalen Rose was sentenced to 20 days in prison (actually 92 days… but the remaining 72 were suspended) today after pleading guilty to drunk driving. Rose, an ESPN Analyst, former Michigan Fab Five’er, and former 13 year NBA veteran, pleaded guilty back in May. At that point, he admitted to having six martinis before getting behind the wheel near Detroit.
After the hearing, Rose issued a brief apology, but his lawyer sounded off.
“This was nothing less than an elected judge legislating from the bench,” said Keith Davidson. “This is a man who has given millions of dollars to charity, started schools around the world and worked endlessly for the community, yet her average sentence is 17 days, and she sentenced Mr. Rose to 20 days.”
The judge, in court, called the sentence appropriate and appeared to want to avoid the appearance of a rich athlete getting out of prison time thanks to an expensive attorney.
Jalen’s comments appeared to be sincere and contrite, but his lawyer isn’t doing him any favors. Three weeks in prison for drunk driving will go by quickly, and it’s not like he’ll be in Oz or anything. Jalen is lucky no one was hurt or killed. When his lawyer says “There were two crimes committed in this case. The first was when Jalen got behind the wheel, and the second one was today,” he does Rose more harm than good. Defending a drunk driver when he gets only a few weeks in prison like that doesn’t go over well with the general populous.
Rose also received a year of probation. So if he comes out of jail (the sentence starts Tuesday), and drives drunk, then he’ll go to prison for one year and 72 days. I’m sure Jalen would like to just do his 20 days and move on. Expect his lawyer to appeal, though. So it’s possible that sentence may be reduced.
