Ta'amu Reaches Plea Deal After South Side Incident
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Alameda Ta'amu could have faced 30-plus years behind bars for what he admitted to on the stand Thursday morning, but he won't.
"He plead guilty to the counts that were appropriate and was sentenced to four days incarceration to be served in an alternative program and 18 months probation," attorney Robert Del Greco said.
In a plea agreement with prosecutors, the Pittsburgh Steelers' lineman pleaded guilty to DUI and recklessly endangering the welfare of others.
The more serious aggravated assault charges were dropped.
It all stemmed from his October 2012 arrest after for driving drunk on Carson Street and then running from police. It's an incident he told the court that he was sorry for.
"Alameda accepted his responsibility, expressed contrition and dedicated himself for making restitution for all matters, as well as seeking rehab," Del Greco said.
Ta'amu did ask and get a bench trial during the proceeding on the charges that he fled from police. On the stand, he said, "he drank a lot of alcohol," and said he ran fearing the consequences being a "Steeler and a rookie."
However, he said he didn't know police were chasing him until they physically caught him.
Judge Robert Marianni agreed and found him not guilty.
"This has cost him dearly – over $165,000. He's in the NFL's substance abuse program. He won't have a license to drive and he has to make the team in September," Del Greco said.
Alameda Ta'amu probation sentence includes losing his license and doing 150 hours of community service.
Judge Marianni mandated some of the community service be done with Charile Batch's youth athletic summer camps.
This afternoon, Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert released a statement on the sentencing.
It reads: "At the time of the incident involving Alameda Ta'amu back in October, we expressed our disappointment in his actions and made it clear that it was not acceptable behavior. We took disciplinary action at that time. We take these types of behavior very seriously, and Alameda is well aware of the standards he has to maintain to remain a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization."
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