Friday, March 29, 2024

Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett Pleads Guilty to ‘Impaired Driving’

J.T. Barrett #16 of the Ohio State Buckeyes talks to Cardale Jones #12 after he threw an interception in the second quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on September 7, 2015 in Blacksburg, Virginia.
J.T. Barrett #16 of the Ohio State Buckeyes talks to Cardale Jones #12 after he threw an interception in the second quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on September 7, 2015 in Blacksburg, Virginia.

*Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett pleaded guilty Tuesday to a count of driving while impaired and was sentenced to a three-day driver-intervention program and fined $400. His license was also suspended for six months, reports the AP.

The 20-year-old apologized to his family, his school and OSU football fans in a brief statement at his hearing in Columbus Municipal Court, where his lawyer said Barrett took responsibility for driving under the influence.

Barrett must complete the class and pay the fine by Feb. 15 or face jail time, said Judge H. William Pollitt.

In addition to being suspended for last week’s Minnesota game, Barrett will forfeit his summer financial aid, coach Urban Meyer said.

Columbus police cited Barrett early on Halloween after he was stopped at a police checkpoint.

Meyer said Barrett, who turns 21 in January, came to his home the day of the incident to apologize. Meyer said Barrett told him he didn’t believe he was impaired.

Barrett was home Oct. 31 relaxing with friends when a ”heavily intoxicated” friend stopped by and Barrett decided to drive him home, said Barrett’s attorney, Phil Templeton. Barrett’s sense of responsibility as an Ohio State captain played a part in that decision, Templeton said.

”He now recognizes, of course, that was a poor decision given what has happened to him,” Templeton said. He wouldn’t identify the friend.

Templeton also said that Barrett was home that night, Halloween, instead of out ”reveling” like so many other people his age.

”He wasn’t out doing the things that so many other college kids around the country were doing,” Templeton said.

The lawyer noted to the judge that Barrett’s blood-alcohol level of 0.099 was only slightly above the legal limit of 0.08 for adults, though he acknowledged Barrett was underage. In Ohio, the limit is 0.02 for people under 21.

Unlike other people charged with drunken driving, Barrett had the added punishment of being publicly ridiculed with his picture everywhere on TV after his arrest. ”He’s paying the ultimate price,” Templeton said.

Barrett will reportedly return to his starting position heading into the No. 2 Buckeyes’ game at Illinois this Saturday.

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