Darren Sharper Pleads Guilty to Louisiana Rape Charge: Latest Details, Reaction

Former NFL safety Darren Sharper entered a guilty plea on sexual assault charges in a Louisiana state court Monday, taking care of his final obligation as part of his multistate rape case.  

According to a report from The Associated Press, Sharper entered his plea in New Orleans, where he spent the final two seasons of his 14-year NFL career. He admitted to drugging and raping two women in New Orleans as part of the plea. He has also been convicted of sexual assault in Arizona and California as well as attempted sexual assault in Nevada.

Each of the cases paints an eerily similar picture, as Sharper would slip drugs in the drinks of women before sexually assaulting them. Last month, he entered a guilty plea in federal court on drug charges related to the assaults.

In March, Andy Grimm of the Times-Picayune reported that Sharper reached a deal that would give him a 10-year prison sentence (with one of the years already having been served) for all of the crimes. The Louisiana conviction will technically come with a 20-year sentence, but Sharper will be released in nine if he complies with specified terms. He will then undergo sex offender monitoring for the remainder of his life, according to Ken Daley of the Times-Picayune. 

Sharper was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro selection during his well-regarded NFL career. He played for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints, serving as a key member to New Orleans' Super Bowl XLIV team. Sharper's 63 interceptions are tied for the seventh most in NFL history. 

A formal sentencing hearing is yet to be held. Judge Karen Herman tentatively set an Aug. 21 date for sentencing, but that may be pushed back due to ongoing cases involving two Sharper co-conspirators, per Ramon Antonio Vargas and John Simerman of the New Orleans Advocate.

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