When Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch found himself charged with DUI in July 2012, Seattle fans and fantasy owners feared a suspension during the coming football season. Midway through the 2013 season, the charges are still pending.
On Friday, a judge in Alameda County Court denied a motion to dismiss the case against Lynch, and to exclude certain unspecified evidence, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com.
Attorney Ivan Golde contends that the arresting officer has changed his story regarding the circumstances leading to the initial stop of Lynch. Golde claims that, in 2012, the arresting officer claimed he watched Lynch driving for only one-fifth of a mile. Golde contends that the officer now says he watched Lynch for a full mile.
“The officer drastically changed his story on that critical piece of information,” Golde said. “The impression the DA’s office seems to be making is that they are singling him out to show that high-profile players can’t get away with these things. After all of what Marshawn does for this community, for the police to lie and change their story to prosecute him is inexcusable.”
Regardless of the reasons for the initial stop, Lynch reportedly provided a breath sample that was measured in excess of the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Trial remains set for December 27, but Golde believes yet another continuance is likely.
Even if Lynch is found guilty, a suspension is unlikely. Although he has had prior incidents under the personal-conduct policy, Lynch has never before been charged with DUI. The standard penalty for a first-offense DUI is a two-game fine.