Clarett to Serve at Least 31/2 Years After Pleading Guilty to Charges

The former Ohio State football star Maurice Clarett pleads guilty Monday, Sept. 18, 2006 in Columbus, Ohio to aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon in a deal that will send him to prison for at least 3 1/2 years to end two criminal cases against him. The plea deal was announced by Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Fais on the day jury selection was to begin in the robbery case, in which Clarett is accused of holding up two people outside a bar. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato) (Kiichiro Sato - AP)

Former Ohio State football star Maurice Clarett was sentenced to prison for at least 3 1/2 years yesterday in Columbus, Ohio, after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon.

Judge David Fais announced the agreement on the day jury selection was to begin in a case in which Clarett was accused of holding up two people outside a bar.

Sentenced to 7 1/2 years with release possible after 3 1/2 years, Clarett also agreed to serve five years of probation after the prison sentence.

"I'd like to apologize for my behavior, and I accept the time that was given to me," said Clarett, who said he understood he was pleading guilty and reversing his earlier plea.

After the deal was announced, Clarett, 22, looked at his mother, who was sobbing and holding his 8-week-old daughter while sitting next to his girlfriend.

The concealed-weapon charge was from Clarett's Aug. 9 arrest after a highway chase with police who found four loaded guns in Clarett's sport utility vehicle. His attorneys said yesterday those guns, which belonged to Clarett, came from his mother's house and were intended for someone else, but the attorneys did not elaborate.

Clarett, who led Ohio State to the national championship in 2002, had been charged in that police altercation with two counts of failure to comply with an order from a police officer and improper handling of a firearm, in addition to the concealed-weapon charge.

Defense attorneys said they hope Clarett can be placed in a state prison with workout facilities so he can stay in shape for a possible return to football.

The plea deal was finalized yesterday morning after prosecutors met with the robbery victims. Authorities said Clarett flashed a gun and robbed two people of a cell phone early Jan. 1.

Had Clarett been convicted on all charges in both cases at trial, he would have faced three to 34 years in prison, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.

-- From News Services