Chris Henry resolves gun charge

[Dom Heffner]

And once again, it all happened where? In Florida.

The sun does something to people down here, I tell ya.

[WMR]

I wonder if the Bengals will keep him... if he does jail time, he's definitely cut, right? I wonder how Marvin will handle the situation if he avoids going to jail?

[WMR]

Henry resolves gun charge
By GEOFF HOBSON
September 12, 2006

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of a concealed firearm in Orlando, Fla., and after serving a day in the Orange County Jail it looks like he may not face an NFL suspension in the gray area of league policy. But if he violates any of the terms of the probation, he’ll go to jail.

Since the NFL treats alcohol and drug matters differently than personal conduct, the weapons plea isn’t treated in the same category as the guilty plea he had earlier this year for marijuana possession.

According to papers from the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange County, Henry has been sentenced to a two-year probation period in which he can’t consume alcohol while completing 10 hours per month of community service adding up to 100 hours. He may travel to games, but must first get approval.

The official sentenciong is adjudication of the third-degree felony, which means if he completes the probabtion the guilty plea will be expunged from his record.

When asked if the club had a response to Tuesday’s events in Orlando, Bengals public relations director Jack Brennan said, “The Bengals respect the decision of the court. Chris has admitted his mistake and has pledged his resolve to learn from it.”

Henry, 23, arrested four times since Dec. 15, was booked on three felonies after waving a Luger at a group of people in a late-night incident in Orlando. He was later charged with one possession of a concealed firearm.

There is gray area because of the NFL's two different policies governing drug and alcohol and player conduct. The player conduct policy says if a player admits guilt to two criminal violations, he'll be suspended without pay. If he admits guilt in a pending DUI case, set to be heard Oct. 19, in Clermont County, he’s likely looking at what has traditionally been a fine

According to an Associated Press story, Henry said outside the court, "I'd like to say I know I made a mistake, but I'm just trying to, you know what I'm saying, turn all of this into a positive. I just want to get back to playing football. It's what I do."

Henry started last Sunday in place of injured T.J. Houshmandzadeh and had one catch for minus-five yards.

[RedFanAlways1966]

<note> I am a big Bengals fan...

If you point (wave?) a gun a group of people with malice, then you should spend some time in jail. Not 1 day... at least 1 month. This kind of crap in our society needs to be punished. Not much of a detriment to people who may consider carrying a concealed weapon illegally and plan on pointing it at someone or a group who they do not like.

Color me disappointed w/ the court's decision. 1st gun offense or not.

[Ltlabner]

Maybe one of our laywer friends can look up the "normal" sentence one would receive for waving a gun around in public, being in posession of stolen property, failure to follow police personell instructions, etc.

In other words, what would hapen to one of us normal people if we did the same thing?

[dabvu2498]

Originally Posted by Ltlabner

Maybe one of our laywer friends can look up the "normal" sentence one would receive for waving a gun around in public, being in posession of stolen property, failure to follow police personell instructions, etc.

In other words, what would hapen to one of us normal people if we did the same thing?

Don't look at what he allegedly "did." Look at what he plead guilty to. Third degree felony... hard to tell exactly how that equates to Ohio's statutes, but a 3rd degree felony for a first time offender in Southwest Ohio, I'd say it's 75/25 that you'd do at least 6 months in jail, 50/50 that you'd do a year in prison. The key factor being what judge you "draw."