Plaxico Burress Pleads Guilty; Gets 2-year Sentence

By Alicia Cruz
Senior writer
Theblackurbantimes

Former New York Giants wide receiver, Plaxico Burress accepted a plea bargain today rather than face 3 1/2 years behind bars. The plea agreement calls for the one-time Super Bowl hero to spend two-years in prison for accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub last year.
Burress plead guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a lesser charge than he had faced. His sentencing will take place on Sept. 22, and his lawyer Benjamin Brafman said he expects Burress to begin serving his sentence immediately after.
Burress got into a black SUV without speaking to reporters outside Manhattan state Supreme Court, but Brafman said, "After an agonizing period of discussion, Plaxico decided that he wanted to do this, to put this behind him as quickly as possible."
The ex-football star was indicted earlier this month on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment.
The guilty plea ends months of haggling between Burress' lawyer and the Manhattan district attorney’s office. When negotiations broke down, the case went to a grand jury.
Burress exited the courthouse today in a dark blue suit and got into a Black SUV refusing to make any comments to the media. After Brafman informed Judge Michael Melkonian that Burress had decided to plead to the lesser charge, Burress announced, "Guilty" to attempted weapons possession in the second degree.
His attorney made this statement to the court on Burress' behalf, "This was not an intentional criminal act. In my judgment, a two-year prison sentence is a very severe punishment," Brafman said.
With time off for good behavior, Burress will likely serve 20 months. Upon his release from prison, Burress will be monitored under an additional two years of supervised release. He also could face disciplinary action by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. No word from the NFL on how they plan to deal with Burress' guilty plea.