Richard Sherman pleads not guilty to 5 misdemeanor charges, posts apology to social media
Jul 16, 2021, 11:39 AM | Updated: 3:31 pm
Ashley Sherman, wife of former Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman, sits with her attorney Mark Middaugh, left, at the back of a King County District Court courtroom. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The King County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday that it will be charging Richard Sherman with five misdemeanors, following his arrest in Redmond earlier this week.
Sherman will face charges for the following alleged crimes:
- Driving under the influence
- Reckless endangerment of roadway workers
- Second degree criminal trespass with a domestic violence component
- Resisting arrest
- Third degree malicious mischief with a domestic violence component
Driving under the influence, malicious mischief, and reckless endangerment are gross misdemeanors, while the remaining two charges are simple misdemeanors. Should Sherman be found guilty, the prosecutor’s office noted that “a possible sentence is up to a judge, and takes into account a person’s criminal history” (of which Sherman has none).
Sherman entered a plea of not guilty for all five charges during a Friday afternoon arraignment. He was released from jail on Thursday without bail.
He will next appear in court for a pre-trial hearing on August 13 at the King County District Courthouse in Redmond.
Initially, he had been arrested under suspicion of domestic violence burglary, which would have been a felony had the prosecutor’s office decided to move forward with that charge.
He also released a statement to his Twitter account shortly after charges were announced Friday morning, saying that he is “deeply remorseful” for his actions, and that he has “been dealing with some personal challenges over the last several months.”
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) July 16, 2021
The former Seattle Seahawk was initially booked into King County jail around 6 a.m. Wednesday, after being taken into custody by Redmond police outside the home of his in-laws.
At 11:26 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, Redmond police were notified by the King County Sheriff’s Office that Sherman was possibly traveling to Redmond, after colliding with a barrier at a closed construction site and abandoning his vehicle.
At approximately 1:49 a.m. on Wednesday, July 14, Redmond police officers were called to a residence for a reported in-progress burglary, where Sherman was attempting to force entry into the home of his in-laws.
Surveillance video captured at the home showed Sherman yelling at his in-laws to “open the door,” while ramming his shoulder into the door repeatedly.
After police engaged Sherman at the scene, he began walking away when he was told he would be arrested. An altercation ensued. A K9 team was deployed to assist in gaining control. Both Sherman and an officer experienced minor injuries.
Roughly an hour before his arrest, Sherman’s wife, Ashley Moss, had called 911, telling dispatchers that Sherman was suicidal and had consumed two bottles of hard alcohol, and that she was worried he was going to her parents’ house in Redmond.
