Sherman pleads not guilty to charges
Former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman pleaded not guilty Friday to five misdemeanor criminal charges, hours after saying he was “deeply remorseful” for the actions leading to his arrest this week.
Sherman, who appeared in King County (Wash.) District Court for the first time at the arraignment, faces charges of driving under the influence, reckless endangerment of roadway workers, seconddegree criminal trespass, thirddegree malicious mischief and resisting arrest. He remains free on his own recognizance.
Sherman, 33, was arrested early Wednesday morning after allegedly trying to break into the Redmond, Wash., home of his inlaws. The incident occurred after he fled a singlecar crash, authorities said, that caused significant damage to his 2016 black Mercedes.
Soon after the King County prosecuting attorney’s office announced it had formally filed charges Friday morning, Sherman made his first public comments since his arrest.
“I am deeply remorseful for my actions on Tuesday night,” he posted on Twitter. “I behaved in a manner I am not proud of. I have been dealing with some personal challenges over the last several months, but that is not an excuse for how I acted.
“The importance of mental and emotional health is extremely real and I vow to get the help I need. I appreciate all of the people who have reached out in support of me and my family, including our community here in Seattle. I am grateful to have such an amazing wife, family and support system to lean on during this time.”
Also on Friday, the prosecuting attorney’s office released court documents including the State Patrol’s DUI arrest report. Two highway
maintenance workers, who called 911 after Sherman crashed his car in a construction zone on State Route 520, said the driver “sounded intoxicated” and had “slurred speech,” the report said.
Surveillance video released by Redmond police showed Sherman later trying to burst through the front door of his inlaws’ house. He repeatedly shouts “Come through!” twice lowers his shoulder in an unsuccessful attempt to knock down the door and then vigorously pushes on the door, to no avail.
The arrest report also described the scene when troopers and Redmond police officers attempted to arrest Sherman. He was advised to kneel into a safe handcuffing position, according to the report, but “he ignored these commands, became more hostile and belligerent and stated multiple times he would not be arrested or go into handcuffs.”
Soon thereafter, the report said, Sherman “shoved several officers and the K9 out of his way as they attempted to secure him.”
Sherman’s court appearance Friday came a day after audio emerged of a 911 call in which his wife, Ashley Moss, said he drank two bottles of hard alcohol and threatened to kill himself late Tuesday night. Shortly thereafter, he left the family’s house in Maple Valley, Wash., and drove to Redmond, another Seattle suburb, where the car crash occurred.
“I love and support my husband,” Moss said in a statement released late Thursday. “I am committed to helping Richard get the support and care that he needs. Richard has always been a loving father and husband, and we are looking forward to seeing him at home with his family.”
The firsttime DUI, reckless endangerment and malicious mischief (for causing damage to the front door of his inlaws’ house) are classified as “gross misdemeanors,” according to the prosecuting attorney’s office. The criminal trespass and resisting arrest charges are considered misdemeanors.
Sherman, a Stanford alum and threetime AllPro, played the past three seasons with the 49ers after spending the first seven years of his career in Seattle. He’s a free agent and remains unsigned for the upcoming NFL season.
Sherman’s next court appearance is a pretrial hearing scheduled for Aug. 13.