This news article incorrectly reported that Stonum had received his sentence yesterday. The reporter incorrectly inferred that the sentence had been decided after Stonum’s lawyer said that he would not discuss the details of the sentence. The decision on a sentence was postponed until next month.
- Zachary Meisner/Daily
- Michigan wide receiver Darryl Stonum plays against Toledo of Ohio on Saturday, October 11th. Michigan lost, 10-13.
After Michigan freshman wide receiver Darryl Stonum showed up late for his court date today, 15th District Judge Julie Creal sentenced him for a charge of operating a vehicle while visibly impaired following his arrest in late September.
Director of Student Legal Services Doug Lewis, who represents Stonum, would not discuss the specifics of the judge’s sentence, but Stonum could potentially face up to 93 days in jail, $300 in fines and 360 hours of community services.
A clerk at the 15th District Court said the information would be available on the court website either later today or tomorrow morning.
When he failed to show up for the court date, Stonum was initially issued a bench warrant for his arrest and $1,000 bond. The warrant was dropped after Stonum appeared, Lewis said.
When reached by telephone today, Stonum said that he was at the sentencing but declined to comment further.
Stonum pleaded guilty to the charge of operating a vehicle while visibly impaired in February.
When contacted today, Lewis disagreed with the premise of reporting on the case.
“It’s no more newsworthy than the whole alcohol problem of all your peers,” he said of Stonum’s offense.
He said that just because Stonum is a well-known University athlete, he shouldn’t be held to a different standard.
“It bothers me when you make an issue out of one person,” he said. “Just because he’s a football player doesn’t mean he’s different than anybody else.”
Following the incident in September, Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriguez suspended Stonum from the team’s game against Illinois on Oct. 4 for a “violation of team rules” but didn’t offer any further reasoning for the punishment.
On Nov. 4, the day of Stonum’s arraignment, Rodriguez said during his weekly Big Ten teleconference that Stonum would not be disciplined further by the team following the one-game suspension.
In the team’s next game against Toledo the next week, Stonum did play but didn’t start.
Stonum started at wide receiver in the rest of the Wolverines’ 12 games last season. He ended his first season with the team the season with 14 catches for 176 yards and one touchdown.