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49ers cornerback faces trial on DUI charge
Monday February 10, 2003
MIAMI (AP) San Francisco 49ers cornerback Mike Rumph rejected
a plea agreement and decided to go to trial on a charge of drunken
driving.
Rumph turned down an offer, usually offered to first-time
offenders, that would have kept him out of jail. Miami-Dade County
Judge Beth Bloom told Rumph before jury selection that if
convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of six months in
jail, followed by a year of probation.
Rumph told the judge he was aware of the possible penalties. He
has maintained his innocence.
The 23-year-old player had 41 tackles and forced one fumble
during his rookie season with the 49ers, who selected him in the
first round out of Miami. Rumph was a key member of the Hurricanes'
2001 national championship team.
A Miami Beach police officer testified Monday that he stopped
Rumph's vehicle early July 6 after watching him roll through two
stop signs. The officer said Rumph failed five field sobriety
tests.
Rumph's blood-alcohol level was .091 percent; the limit in
Florida is .08 percent.
Rumph pleaded innocent to the charge last August. The trial was
scheduled to resume Tuesday.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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