Bears' Briggs gets fine, community service for crash
Chicago Bears player Lance Briggs today was placed on one year of court supervision, sentenced to 15 days of community service and slapped with a $480 fine, after pleading guilty to two charges stemming from the August night when he crashed his Lamborghini.
The $7 million-a-year linebacker admitted to leaving the scene of the accident, a misdemeanor, and that he failed to immediately report the crash. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a citation for improper lane usage.
Attorneys on both sides said the plea agreement was a fair one.
The most important piece, Cook County Judge Earl Hoffenberg said, is the community service: Hoffenberg ordered Briggs to spend it working with young people -- specifically, talking with them about driving safely.
Prosecutors said Briggs was driving north on the Edens Expressway in his 2007 black Lamborghini early on Aug. 27 when he lost control near the Devon Road exit.
The car smashed into the embankment, skipped over the guardrail and landed in a grassy area facing the opposite direction, Assistant State's Attorney Rick Cenar said.
At that point, he said, Briggs left the scene. Minutes later, he called police to say his car had been stolen. Around 5 a.m., prosecutors said, he phoned state police and admitted to the incident, telling police he was at his Northbrook home and they could come speak with him. When an officer arrived, Cenar said, he didn't answer the door. He turned himself in to state police later that afternoon, authorities said.
Briggs has no criminal record.
"He's here today accepting responsibility for one night of poor decision-making," his attorney, Frank Himel, told the judge.
Briggs, who arrived in court wearing a pinstripe suit and reflective sunglasses, said nothing to the judge besides acknowledging that he understood his rights and the situation. He declined comment afterward, but did sign autographs for several fans inside the Skokie courthouse.
Briggs' car, a Lamborghini Murcielago, was valued at more than $400,000.