Plea deals will jail Sharper for 9 years
Former NFL safety Darren Sharper pleaded no contest Monday to drugging and raping two women in Los Angeles as part of a broader plea deal in four states that will send him to federal prison for nine years.
Sharper, 39, acknowledged the crimes in Los Angeles Superior Court after pleading guilty by video link to sexual assault in Arizona. Sharper said he was entering the plea because it was in his best interest. He had faced up to 33 years in prison if convicted of all counts against him in California.
Sharper, who retired in 2011 after a 14- year career with three teams, admitted he had drugged and raped two women he met at a bar in West Hollywood in 2013 and 2014. The women weren’t in court, but prosecutors said they had agreed to the plea deal.
In the Arizona case, Sharper admitted sexually assaulting one woman and trying to attack another in suburban Phoenix in 2013. He appeared in a Phoenix courtroom by video conference from Los Angeles, where he has been jailed since February 2014.
Similar hearings will follow Tuesday in Las Vegas and next month in New Orleans. In each state, Sharper is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting women when they were unconscious or otherwise unable to resist or consent.
MLB
Scherzer to start Nats’ opener
Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams said righthander Max Scherzer will start the team’s season opener April 6 against the New York Mets, not right- hander Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg had started the Nationals’ last three openers.
Scherzer, 30, signed a sevenyear, $ 210 million contract with the Nationals as a free agent in January. He was 82- 35 with a 3.52 ERA in five seasons with the Detroit Tigers, including 21- 3 with a 2.90 ERA on his way to the American League Cy Young Award in 2013 and 18- 5 with a 3.15 ERA last season.
The Mets, meanwhile, said veteran right- hander Bartolo Colon will oppose Scherzer.
Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona said he doesn’t expect injured outfielder/ first baseman Nick Swisher to be ready in time for the team’s season opener April 6 against the Houston Astros.
Swisher, who hit only .208 with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 2014, had surgery on both knees in August and has been slower to recover than expected. He only began running the bases last week and is expected to play in a minorleague game Wednesday.
NHL
Pens’ Dupuis out for season
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis has been ruled out for the rest of the season, including the Stanley Cup playoffs, while getting treatment for blood clots. Dupuis, 35, hasn’t played since beginning treatment for blood clots in November. He is prohibited from engaging in contact while taking blood thinners to treat the condition.
WNBA
Sky, Pondexter strike deal
The Sky announced they agreed to terms with guard Cappie Pondexter on a multiyear contract extension. They acquired Pondexter, 32, in a trade Feb. 16 from the New York Liberty for guard Epiphanny Prince.