Donte Stallworth and You: Why We're Different

Life kept me away from a computer this morning, so I’m late to the Donte Stallworth sentencing party.

Perusing the site, I saw a few takes on the situation and wondered, “What can I add to the discussion?”

We’ve learned that Stallworth has very good lawyers and that killing a man obviously merits a lower sentence than killing some dogs in the modern court system.

We’ve also learned that money tends to solve a lot of problems, no matter how deep the proverbial hole you’ve dug yourself into is.

And that, my friends, is the hook upon which I shall hang my hat.

Stallworth, quite simply, has a lot of money. He made more money ($4.5 million) on his roster bonus the day before he killed Mario Reyes than most people will ever make in their entire lives. 

For the crime of DUI manslaughter of Reyes on March 14, Stallworth has been sentenced to 30 days in jail—which he can complete before training camp starts July 31—two years house arrest, eight years probation, 1,000 hours of community service, and a lifetime suspension of his driver’s license.

A corollary to that is Stallworth may apply for limited driving privileges, such as for employment, in five years.

For a man who could’ve afforded a driver that night, this sentence strikes just about everyone I’ve talked to as a ridiculous miscarriage of justice.

Or is it?

I ask this question in the most serious manner. A miscarriage of justice assumes something out of the ordinary happened, thus letting a perpetrator off the hook without receiving a just punishment.

Throughout history, the rich have traditionally bought their way out of serving jail time.

Why should this case be seen in a different light?

“This is America!” you cry.

Yes, it is. This is the country that freed O.J. Simpson for a double murder that even he’s allegedly admitted to in a backhanded, “fictional,” way. The fact he was sent to jail last year for armed robbery only proves the point. By 2008, most of his money was gone and he’d become a pariah in society.

Without the money to buy the best attorney, a favorable jury, and sway public opinion, he had to face justice just like the rest of us.

While Stallworth hadn’t quite attained the level of fame Simpson had, he had a lot of money to buy the best attorney available and was able to cut a deal with the Reyes family that the prosecutor signed off on.

To look at it in another way, the average “Joe” committing DUI manslaughter is going to get significant jail time plus all the other fines and conditions. But the average person doesn’t have a $35 million contract he can fall back on.

Since the families of the deceased can’t sue Joe Six Pack for $10 million and expect to see one penny of that amount, Joe Six Pack goes to jail for 15 years. Stallworth empties a huge portion of his bank account and only gets 30 days behind bars.

So for an “undisclosed amount,” Stallworth effectively bought out his jail time. He still gets the house arrest and probation, but it beats actually sitting in a prison cell. It was money well spent.

I can’t bring myself to pass judgment on the Reyes family for letting themselves be “bought out,” because I’m not in their position. If they turn down the money and make Stallworth spend more time in jail, how does that bring Mario back?

In these tough economic times, I can’t be upset with them for taking the money. Maybe Mario would have wanted it that way.

For all the people out there sitting in jail for extended lengths for the same crime, this feels unfair. 

It is unfair. But life is unfair.

If I was filthy rich, there’s a lot of stuff I wouldn’t worry about. On the other hand, I’d always be paranoid that I was going to get targeted in a multimillion dollar lawsuit for something little just because someone saw an opportunity for a payday.

I’m not saying I wouldn’t trade lifestyles with the rich and famous, I’m merely pointing out that having a lot of money, especially so much so young, can bring its own set of problems and frustrations.

At the end of the day, the family of the deceased and the legal system came to an agreement, and the rest of the public has to accept that agreement. That’s how the system works. Having worked around the court system for seven years, I know for a fact prosecutors and defense attorneys do everything within their power to avoid a trial. This outcome is a result of that desire.

Stallworth got off easy, no doubt about that. He’ll be able to make a lot of the money he lost back. Even with the expected NFL suspension, Stallworth, 28, still has several more years of football left in him.

He’ll be able to recoup that money with his next contract. He’ll still be able to do the things everyone else does everyday with the help of a driver, because he can afford to pay one.

When you think about it, Stallworth, who was on his way to the beach that morning, still will be able to finish that trip the day he gets out of jail—on July 16.

Reyes can’t go to the beach anymore because he’s dead.