Leonard Little issue
 

what do you guys think should happen to him re: his second DUI.

Driving under the influence is one thing, but to get caught a second time AFTER killing someone the first time (involuntary manslaughter, ha!) is ridiculous. If I was responsible for someone's death, I wouldn't be driving again- Little should have hired a driver.

He ought to be suspended for a year, in addition to whatever legal penalties he faces.

If my drinking and driving ended someone's life, it would also end my drinking, permanently. This guy has a serious issue, and it goes a lot deeper than not hiring a driver.

I believe since this is his 2nd after a severe 1st time infraction, (involuntary manslaughter), he will be suspended for a year without pay, and have to say no drivers license for a year. It is a shame that a man with incredible talent can't keep his act together off the field.

If I had ever gotten behind the wheel of a car and killed someone, and had gotten off it like he did, I wouldnt even look at a drink the rest of my life. This guy could have learned from his mistakes, maybe tried to make a difference, do somthing to try to make up for what he did ( although you can never make up killing someone). What does Leanord do? Goes and gets another DUI. Pardon me, but f*ck him. He should spend the rest of his life behind bars as far as I'm concerned. Can you get any dumber? He should be banned from the NFL

I feel that the penelty for most DUIs are a little overboard. However, toss repeat offenders into jail. Anyone know what he blew? Because a .08 for a guy with his mass probably is like one of us drinking OJ in the morning. Either way, he should be stiffly penelized.

I agree with you Daseal. I mean theres some people that just have one too many, and make a legitmate honest mistake and get absolutley blasted for it. HOWEVER, I dont really care if this guy blew a .08 or a .18 , the fact of the matter is he is retarded for doing what he did a second time. I dont really know what he was when he killed the woman, but I would like to know if it was a honest mistake type of thing for him to drive, or if it was just a downright dumb move.

In Little's case, he shouldn't even look at a drink and then get behind the wheel after what he's been through.

Well this is a bit of a sensitive issue for me because one of my best friends just started a 15 year sentence for vehicular homicide. He did what I'm sure many of us have done. He had a few drinks, figured home was close enough and got behind the wheel. Unfortunately he killed someone.

He regrets it and feels he has to serve time as penance but no matter how many years he serves he can't bring back the victim's life. What he can do is never touch another drink and then drive again. And I hope that when he gets out that's what he does. It's a shame Little didn't see fit to make that choice.

Banned for Life. Period. There is a father out there who can't see his daughter and this guy is racking up millions and apparently could give a f***! It's time for some accountability here.

Yeah, I couldn't ever forgive myself for killing someone, but what he blows DOES matter. If you blow a .01 by law the can give you a DUI. .01 you don't even feel and has absolutly no affect on your motor skills at all. Especially a man of his size.

Killing someone I can't ever forget, but our country is so strict when it comes to alcohol it's amazing. However, someone in Little's case can easily afford a cab ride home.

This statement is of course in light of the fact that it's his second offense. Obviously mistakes can be made but you have to demonstrate that you will not do it again. Getting busted a second time after such a heinous act is unbelievable.

I agree. What, this guy can't afford a car service? Nobody in his entourage can stay sober?

That kinda reminds me, does any body remember what happened to the Cowboy player who ran down 3 people last year?

First of all, Leonard Little is not yet guilty of his second DWI. Please repeat after me:

Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law...

Now, IF he is found guilty of DWI on this occasion after his previous DWI that resulted in the death of another human being, then he should be banned from the NFL permanently and sentenced to whatever the maximum penalty that the law allows in the jurisdiction where he commited this violation.

Oh, by the way, it does not matter what his blood alchohol level was. If he is convicted of DWI, there will have to be convincing evidence introduced to show that he was over the legal limit in that area.

But, please reserve some measure of "presumption of innocence" at this point.

sportscrumudgeon, it's like you're in tune with Law & Order or something. Ok, you are right, if he is found GUILTY then ban him. it's hard to give the benefit of the doubt to a guy who already killed someone but you are definitely correct.

this is sad and pathetic. not to pass blame but where r his friends and family trying to give him some reinforcement against his obvious drinking problem. he should have his license revoked for atleast 2-3 years, mandatory counciling, a severe fine, several hundred hours of community service, and possibly even some jail time especially if this violated his probation. he'll be suspended from the league w/o pay for a full season by the nfl, possibly longer, during which time he should do whatever it takes to fix his life. u would think the horrible tragedy 5 years ago would have steered him completely away from alcohol, but all i can say is thank goodness no one was hurt this time.

[url]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpZ2NvMjltBF9TAzk1ODYxMDU5BHNlYwN0aA--?slug=ap-rams-little&prov=ap&type=lgns[/url]

The guy has a problem. He needs to get some kind of rehab going. Once can be a tragic accident, bad circumstance, but a second is a crime (if he's found guilty). Nobody wins in this case.

[quote]Oh, by the way, it does not matter what his blood alchohol level was. If he is convicted of DWI, there will have to be convincing evidence introduced to show that he was over the legal limit in that area.[/quote]

At least in Virginia the DUI law is ambigious and they can give you a DUI if you blow a .01 or above. How well it will stand up in court I don't know, but I know a girl that blew a .03 and they were able to give her a DUI offense. Now, she had a bad lawyer, but .03 is like 1/2 a beer.

I think that if he is guilty then there should be a severe backlash, but I'd like to know more about the case before I say exactly as to what.

I don't understand why this guy's job has anything to do with it. Just put him in jail and the job thing works itself out. Just because a guy commits a crime, he can't make a living after the sentence is fulfilled?

I think we should be looking at it from a different angle -

I mean, (IF he is guilty) being banned from the NFL is a no brainer.

However, he should be playing butt-darts in prison for a good amount of time for being a 2d time offender on something this serious - and a dumbass.

It's time for the Pro Leagues to crack down on their criminals... it's getting out of hand...

To me, what he blows isn't the issue here. I'm just looking at the fact he got behind the wheel, again, after drinking. His behavior is just inexcusable considering he was responsible for killing someone previously.

[QUOTE=sportscurmudgeon]First of all, Leonard Little is not yet guilty of his second DWI. Please repeat after me:
Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law...
Now, IF he is found guilty of DWI on this occasion after his previous DWI that resulted in the death of another human being, then he should be banned from the NFL permanently and sentenced to whatever the maximum penalty that the law allows in the jurisdiction where he commited this violation.
Oh, by the way, it does not matter what his blood alchohol level was. If he is convicted of DWI, there will have to be convincing evidence introduced to show that he was over the legal limit in that area.
But, please reserve some measure of "presumption of innocence" at this point.[/QUOTE]

Good point about presumption of innocence. Mr. Little could be found not guilty on a technicality. For example if the chain of custody on evidence like blood from a blood test to determine his sobriety was broken. Or if he was not read his rights when he was arrested. A good lawyer can get him off if one mistake was made and you know he will have the best representation money can buy. I remember Bruce Smith was found not guilty in VA beach several years ago.
However it would have to be a technicality to get him off. I know very little about Mr. Little's arrest. I read he was pulled over for speeding, at which point the officer determined he was under the influence. The fact he was initially pulled over for speeding will prevent his lawyer from claiming he was needlessly pulled over.
Mr. Little either failed a breath test, blood test or refused to submit to one of these tests.
Either way it does not look good unless the police made a mistake.

Leonard
 

I was one of Leonards roomates at UT and continue to stay in touch with him. I usually go to his house about twice a year and have a good relationship with him. I really done understand how he could have done this. When I heard this I couldn't and still cant believe he did this. When we were in school he was such a great guy. He was such a leader and never would drink or smoke weed like most other athletes. He never wanted to take a chance on hurting his career and setting a bad example. I can honestly say when he was involved in his first accident in st louis I know he was devistated as he should have been, what he did was very stupid and cost someone their life. I am going to say something that is going to sound stupid but this guy is one of those guys that never drinks, it was his birthday and his fellow linebackers took him out and got him trashed, he didnt know how to respond because the guy never drinks and made the mistake of his life. After that happened he seemed to be a different person, when we drove up to see him he would call numerous times before we arrived to make sure nothing had happened. In this last year I really thought that things were no different until I heard he had gotten a DUI. I still live in Knoxville and I talk with him about every 3 months or so. I was amazed to hear this! I can not believe he did something this unthoughtful. He could have easily have killed someone else and I know he knows that. I love this guy like a brother but its soo hard to see him make this mistake. I actually think the best thing that could happen to him would be for him to be banned from football permantly. He needs to be humbled.
D

Jelli - I think a permenent ban from football is a bit of a stretch. He's made mistakes, and I think a year would be plenty to really send a message. If you truly are a friend of his, please talk to him. He'll need help right now. If he ever plans on going out, tell him to leave his car and grab a cab! Get a hotel room - he can afford it! Tell him to do anything but drive if at all possible. I think as fans we hate to see anything bad happen to these guys, especially the ones as talanted as Leonard.

yea thats weird that you know him so well and want me banned, expecially if he doesnt drink that much and seems to have really bad luck with it. My best friend has a drinking problem and is a rock star, but i dont think he should have to end his career because of it. Granted hes never hurt anyone but still.

[QUOTE=Daseal]I feel that the penelty for most DUIs are a little overboard. However, toss repeat offenders into jail. Anyone know what he blew? Because a .08 for a guy with his mass probably is like one of us drinking OJ in the morning. Either way, he should be stiffly penelized.[/QUOTE]
Why should you have to be a "repeat offender" before you get punished? Is it any less wrong the first time?

I think he needs to be suspended from the NFL for a year and have his DL suspended for 3 years. He obviously didn't learn his lesson the first time from killing someone.. I don't know what he needs to have happen before he realizes that he doesn't need to drink and drive, but something better turn that lightbulb on before he kills someone else.

UNSUBSTANTIATED RUMOR TIME!
I live in Leonard's hometown of Asheville NC. A reporter friend of mine told me once that the police have fought with him, while high on crack, so many times that they have a "death warrant" on him, and have told him to stay away or he will die in custody.
Take it for what it is.

[quote]Why should you have to be a "repeat offender" before you get punished? Is it any less wrong the first time?
[/quote]

EEich - I bet you've had a couple drinks and then driven before. You think they should lock you up and toss away the key? I don't. I think people make mistakes, and even one sip can get you a DUI if the cop wants to be an asshole. The sobriety test is absolutely ridiculous. Mainly the alphabet part. Give me a pen and paper sober and I can do the alphabet backwards. Otherwise it takes quite some time. I think that there should be a penelty for first offense (depending on the situation) but not one that cripples someone for life. Second offense maybe a little jail time for a wake up call.

People drink and drive all the time. Its technically a mistake everytime, the majority of the time no one gets arrested or killed from it. Ive had some drinks and driven before, so im not going to sit here and say that im better than him. If he wanst a nfl player hed probably be spending 30-90 days in jail right now

Leonard
 

Maybe a ban is a little tough, But he apparently hasn't been humbled. I really dont want the man to lose his job but I want him to see what hes done and doing. And about the guy who is from Asheville, Leonard dates a cop from Asheville and I know he has never done crack. Where do people get this stuff?
D

once is a error in judgement, twice you are an idiot. He killed a person, it is not like he just got pulled over. He had all the resources in the world to help himself. I don't see how the justice system will go easy on him....if they do they will get "totaled" in the media!

For this guys own good, he need court mandated treatment either in the prison system or elsewhere.

lifetimeskin:

From what I read, he has already had "treatment" for the last several years.

At some point, the public - meaning you and me when we are walking down the street or driving our car to go and pick up some groceries - needs protection from people who drive drunk REPEATEDLY. As I said earlier on, if killing someone while driving drunk did not get the message through to this guy that this is "not a good thing to do", then I'm not sure how you are going to get that message through to him with any more treatment or counseling or self-esteem workshops. Next time he could run over a pregnant woman wheeling her twin boys in a stroller and kill them all. Wouldn't that be swell?

I live in Italy where drunk driving is practically a national sport and we (the military community) are constantly seeing our young guys following suit. I've read several posts in this thread expressing the opinion that regardless of what he did, he has a right to make a living. That's true, but some of you may be interested to know that the military takes DUI/DWI so seriously that the first offense is often enough to end a persons career. The only way it doesn't is if the person in question is really young/new to the military. Then, they get dropped down in rank and put on restriction for 45 days with basically no paycheck. If you've been in the service for a while, one DUI/DWI and you're pretty much finished. The reason I'm saying all of this is that a person does have the right to make a living, but it doesn't necessarily have to be in the same line of work they are currently in. Especially if that line of work (NFL) is one with a high profile with a potentially great impact on others. (As a role model to kids, in this case.) I don't wish Little any harm, but I think his presence in the league is a disservice to the NFL's image and himself, as he can't seem to handle the lifestyle.

BleedBurgandy:

I am with you on this one. The current rage is to declare that someone's "right to earn a living" transcends everything else. It doesn't. If it did, then prison terms would be impossible because few if any people in their right mind would choose to earn their living as an "inmate".

Having spent considerable time in Italy, I understand the "DUI as a national sport" there. Alcohol is treated differently in Italy than it is here in the US. I remember walking up to a soda machine in Rome and one of the choices was Campari and soda. Imagine the furor here if someone tried to put a gin and tonic in a vending machine.

Stay safe...