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Stonum sentenced to two years' probation in drunken-driving case

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By Stephen J. Nesbitt, Daily Sports Editor
Published June 10, 2011

In his Friday morning sentencing at the 15th District Court in Ann Arbor, wide receiver Darryl Stonum was sentenced to two years' probation for a second offense of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Stonum, a senior on the Michigan football team, was initially arrested just after 2 a.m. on May 6 by University of Michigan police after being pulled over near the intersection of State Street and William Street. Two breath tests at the police station showed Stonum's blood-alcohol level at .11 and .13 — both well above the .08 legal limit in Michigan.

The Stafford, Texas native pleaded guilty to the charge of drunken driving last week and will face a 365-day suspended jail sentence following the two years' probation. Suspended sentences are often dropped if the defendant does not violate his probation.

Stonum will remain in Judge Julie Creal's sobriety court program for his two years of probation. Creal, who made the ruling on Friday, had some choice words for the suspended Michigan receiver.

"This is a great opportunity for you to grow up and recognize your responsibilities to society," Creal said. "We've had this conversation before, and I'm sure we'll have it again. You've been in here to see the resources that are available to you, and you have extraordinary resources available to you other places. I want you to take advantage of all of those."

Stonum did not comment during the sentencing. He faces a review on June 24, but also has an arraignment on June 23 for an additional incident in which Stonum was found Thursday to be driving under a suspended license. According to reports, Stonum's attorney, Douglas Lewis said the defendant was moving his car to avoid a parking ticket.

The secondary incident is independent of Friday's sentence, but Creal said Stonum's license could be suspended in one-year segments by the state of Michigan if he's convicted.

In addition to two years of probation and a one-year suspended sentence, Stonum must pay $1,130 fines and costs, $720 in probation oversight fees and a $100 Ann Arbor Police recovery fee.

Stonum must attend a MADD victims panel, attend a substance-abuse assessment this week, take daily breathalyzer tests and have drug screens. Creal suggested that Stonum be looking for a job to cover the expenses of his sentence.

Stonum was also arrested in September 2008 for driving while visibly impaired, and he spent three nights in jail during July 2010 because of multiple violations the terms of his probation.