Deal set to spare Wayne Carey US jail time
Article from:
Herald Sun Stefanie Balogh
September 23, 2008 12:00am
WAYNE Carey is on the verge of settling his US criminal case for allegedly assaulting two police officers and is likely to avoid jail.
Carey's high-powered Florida lawyer, Richard Sharpstein, yesterday confirmed the footballer's case was close to being finalised, but would not divulge any details.
"We're very close to resolving this matter . . . that will be a very good resolution for Mr Carey and agreeable to the state, and I really can't tell you any more," he said.
Mr Sharpstein has previously stressed he would not accept any deal that resulted in jail time for Carey, and was determined to clear the footballer's name.
Carey, 37, was due to face court in Miami on October 3 ahead of a jury trial on October 14. But the court file now shows that Carey's case is listed for a plea report on October 14.
Carey would be expected to face the court to enter any plea, which would most likely be to lesser charges.
One of Florida's most respected and savviest criminal lawyers, Mr Sharpstein was recruited to represent Carey in April. He replaced the footballer's original lawyer, G. Eric Marshall, who called himself "superman".
Miami-Dade prosecutors could not be reached for comment yesterday and the court was closed.
If the case is swiftly resolved with a plea, Carey would be putting behind him a legal nightmare that has dogged him for almost a year. Last October he was arrested and charged on two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer and one count of resisting an officer with violence after an allegedly wild night in a Miami hotel.
He was accused of allegedly kicking one officer in the lower lip and elbowing another in the face.
Carey has previously entered a not guilty plea through his lawyer to the three serious felony charges, which carry a maximum 15 years in jail.
The officers were called to Carey's hotel room on October 27 following allegations he smashed a wine glass in girlfriend Kate Neilson's face.
Ms Neilson wrote to the court earlier this year saying the incident was a "simple misunderstanding of an earlier event in our relationship" and she wanted "this unfortunate incident behind us". He is not charged with assaulting her.
Carey's case has been delayed three times in the US.
The footballer is now attempting to rebuild his life in Queensland after his fall from grace.
Carey was yesterday named by Zoo Weekly at number four on its annual Top 50 People We Hate List
| 
Sep 22, 2008, 11:46:51 PM