UI football player sentenced to court supervision in DUI
URBANA — A University of Illinois football player was sentenced Thursday to court supervision for driving under the influence of alcohol.
That means Ashante Williams, 21, of the 1500 block of East Florida Avenue, Urbana, will not have a conviction entered on his record if he successfully completes the terms of a sentence imposed by Champaign County Judge Rich Klaus for the misdemeanor offense.
Williams pleaded guilty to the DUI in September, admitting that on July 30, he drove his car in Urbana at a time when his blood-alcohol level was 0.177 percent, about twice the limit for a motorist to be presumed intoxicated in Illinois.
Assistant State's Attorney Chris Kanis said Williams was stopped about 1:30 a.m. for improper lane usage and speeding on Washington Street near Anderson in Urbana and an officer smelled alcohol on Williams and noted signs of impairment. There was no traffic accident.
Williams had two passengers with him and admitted he had been drinking, Kanis said.
At his sentencing, Williams testified in his own behalf that he had learned a lot in alcohol counseling, including how it affects judgment.
Assistant State's Attorney Sam Rosenberg asked Klaus to enter a conviction while defense attorney Bruce Ratcliffe of Champaign sought the supervision sentence.
Other terms of the sentence include a $1,250 fine, 125 hours of public service work, attendance at a victim impact panel and continued alcohol treatment and education.
Kanis said Williams' only prior record was a petty traffic ticket for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. Klaus found him unlikely to reoffend.
Following his arrest, the junior linebacker was suspended by Coach Ron Zook and missed workouts at Camp Rantoul and a portion of the non-conference season. He has resumed play with the team.
Boy, it must be nice to be a U of I football player. Had it been some everyday person like me, or you the reader, Im sure Id be looking down the barrel of tens of thousands in cost, starting w/ lawyers and ending w/ high-risk insurance, embarrasement amoungst my family, friends and co-workers, and sheer guilt. A football booster will handle the fine. Community service, ya whatever. Back to preparing for the manhandlings that are comming Illinois' way for the rest of the B1G season and attending class in his free time on the way to a free $100K education. Must be nice. Just sayin....
Speakerman11,
I've had around ten friends and a family member get a DUI in Champaign County and I know players tend to receive special treatment in town but this is NOT the case. Court supervision (probation) happens in all first offenses, $1,200 is the standard fine, 125 hours of community service actually seems slightly high, and the average person would deal with shame? Last time I checked none of the people I know with DUI's has been in the news paper for literally everyone in the world to read! Lastly, I'm a full time student at the U of I and tuition for me is 12,000 a year so unless he plans on attending for 9 years I think $100,000 is a bit of an over estimate. Next time try fact checking or maybe also use some common sense.
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