Photo: Sports Illustrated
A former NFL player who was arrested Jan. 17 on sexual assault allegations has been ordered to stay at a Los Angeles area hotel until his arraignment, according to news reports.
Darren Sharper, who is currently a commentator with the NFL Network and lives in Miami Beach, Fla., was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Dept. in mid-January on allegations of two sexual assaults committed in West Los Angeles. His arraignment was original scheduled for Feb. 14; however, the court date was reportedly postponed to Feb. 20.
The former professional football player, who was reportedly charged with two counts of rape and five felonious counts of drug-related charges, has also been ordered to give up his passport and to keep away from the Bootsy Bellows nightclub at the western end of the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, Calif.
The LAPD believe the sexual assaults were committed in October 2013 and again in January 2014. According to an LAPD blog, Sharper was arrested for allegedly violating section 261(a)(3) – Rape – of the California Penal Code; he was booked at the Metropolitan jail but reportedly posted a $200,000 bail.
The Times-Picayune reported in late January an unrelated and separate allegation of rape was filed Sept. 24, 2013, with the New Orleans Police Dept. against Sharper. However, Sharper’s attorney, according to the Times-Picayune report, disputed that allegation.
Sharper, 38, is a retired NFL player who spent 14 seasons playing safety for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans Saints. He was a member of the Saints team who beat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. The former defensive stalwart played in the NFL between 1997 and 2010 and was a five-time Pro-Bowler. In 2012, he was hired by the NFL Network to be an in-studio analyst. The network reportedly suspended Sharper without pay after he was arrested two weeks ago.
A conviction could result in a 30-year sentence in State prison.
According to various news reports, Sharper also faces criminal allegations in other states such as Arizona, Louisiana, and Nevada.
