Richard Sherman avoids DUI trial after court ruling

Former Seattle Seahawks player Richard Sherman will not go on trial for driving under the influence.

A King County court ordered a deferred prosecution in the case Tuesday. Sherman’s petition cited mental health problems, according to court documents.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Sherman did not receive preferential treatment—under state law, a defendant has the right to request a deferred prosecution once.

A defendant must agree to two years of treatment and be placed on a 5-year probationary period.

“What happened today was that there was a deferment that was ordered by the court,” Casey McNerthney, spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, told KIRO Newsradio. “That means there’s two years of court orders to follow, and if those are followed, then the case doesn’t go through the traditional court process. I think a lot of people would look at that and say, ‘So does that mean that there’s a sweetheart deal there?’ No, there wasn’t special treatment one way or the other. When you have the deferment option there, that’s standard for all types of folks, whether you’re an athlete or not.”

Richard Sherman charged with DUI after February traffic stop

Sherman was charged with DUI after a traffic stop in Bellevue in February of last year.

The charge took more than a year after the arrest because prosecutors were waiting for blood-alcohol test reports to be completed. In June, he pleaded not guilty.

Troopers said Sherman was driving 79 mph in a 60 mph zone. They reported Sherman was swerving, and once they pulled him over, they said his eyes were bloodshot, his speech was slurred, and they could smell alcohol.

Sherman was also arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in 2021 following a domestic disturbance.

Contributing: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio

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