Richard Sherman plea deal: What to know about his sentencing, punishment following arrest

Jacob Camenker ,
Peter Socotch
• 8 min read
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Richard Sherman has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges stemming from an arrest last July stemming from a domestic disturbance and drunken driving incident. 

The cornerback was arrested on July 14th after he crashed his SUV in a construction zone and attempted to break into his in-laws’ house near Seattle, police said. The break-in attempt was captured on a surveillance camera at the residence, which was later released by the court.

His father-in-law, Raymond Moss, told officers at the time he armed himself with a handgun and fired pepper spray at Sherman to protect his family.

“I’m grateful for the community we have and the way people continue to accept you even though you're a flawed human being and made a mistake,” Sherman told the court.

What is Richard Sherman's punishment? 

Sherman owes roughly $825 in legal fees and $500 for speeding in the construction zone.

He will also be under court supervision for two years.

The cornerback will also be responsible for paying restitution for the damage he created to his in-laws' house, as well as to the state transportation department. That amount has yet to be determined. 

Sherman was also given credit for the two days he spent in custody after he was first arrested with 88 days remaining on the sentence suspended by the judge. He will not serve any additional time behind bars. 

The King County prosecutor's office said the resolution was in line with comparable cases.

“Mr. Sherman did not get special treatment one way or the other,” spokesman Casey McNerthney wrote, via Yahoo! Sports.

Below is a full summary of the events that led to Sherman's arrest, based on police accounts and media reports.

Richard Sherman news

Sherman was arrested and booked at 6:08 a.m. PT (9:08 a.m. ET) Wednesday at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle on suspicion of burglary domestic violence. On Thursday, Amy Dash, a legal analyst for CBS Sports Radio and Fox Sports Radio, reported that Washington state was charging Sherman with one count each of criminal trespass (domestic violence designation), malicious mischief, driving under the influence and resisting arrest. The charges are all misdemeanors. 

TSN reporter Farhan Lalji followed Dash's update by reporting that Sherman was released without bail. 

A Redmond Police Department spokesperson told TMZ on Wednesday that "officers showed up to a residence in the Redmond area after receiving a call from the occupants inside the home who claimed a family member who did not live there was trying to break in." They went on to arrest Sherman, but his wife, Ashley Moss, said that everything was OK after the incident.

"He didn’t harm anybody. My kids were not harmed in the incident," Moss told The Seattle Times. "He’s a good person and this is not his character. We’re doing all right, just trying to get him out. I want people to know no one was injured."

The Tacoma News Tribune reported on Wednesday that Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe said that Sherman is being charged because of his relation to the occupants at the address and "not because of violence against any family member/significant other."

In a 911 call obtained by KIRO Radio in Seattle, Moss can be heard saying Sherman was "drunk and belligerent" and that he was threatening to kill himself. She said that there were no weapons in the house, but that Sherman would try to fight police if they showed up. She also said that he had tried to fight her uncle. 

The Seattle Times report said that Sherman had fought with police officers and that a police dog was used to assist with arresting him.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the news of Sherman's arrest and also reported that he was denied bail.

Sherman was denied bail because a judge needs to set it "due to the felony nature of the incident," per NBC Sports Northwest's Joe Fann. Sherman's hearing will take place Thursday. He will remain in the King County Correctional Facility until then.

Schefter reported that Sherman is also being investigated in connection with a single-car hit and run. The vehicle is registered to Sherman.

The NFL Players Association issued a statement on Sherman's arrest and said the organization had activated its "domestic violence crisis protocol." Sherman is a vice president on the NFLPA's executive committee.

We were made aware of an arrest last night of one of our player leaders for an alleged domestic violence incident and have activated our domestic violence crisis protocol for the protection and support of everyone involved. We will continue to monitor events closely as more facts are made available to us.

Why was Richard Sherman arrested?

Police responded to a residence in the Redmond, Wash., area after a family member who didn't live at the home attempted to break in, TMZ reported. The family member allegedly was Sherman, though police wouldn't confirm the name of the suspect.

Sherman was arrested on suspicion of burglary domestic violence and denied bail. Additionally, an extreme risk protection order has been mandated in this case.

Authorities have yet to provide further details about Sherman's arrest. The case is sealed, according to a notice filed in King County Superior Court.

What is burglary domestic violence?

Washington state law defines two degrees of burglary charges that can be involved with domestic violence. The lesser of the two is burglary in the second degree.

The charge is defined as follows, according to domestic violence defense firm Karimi Law: 

A person is guilty of burglary in the second degree if, with intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein, he or she enters or remains unlawfully in a building other than a vehicle or a dwelling.

This is considered a Class B felony. Penalties can include:

  • Up to 10 years of jail time
  • A fine up to $20,000

The first-degree offense is considered a Class A felony.

A person is guilty of burglary in the first degree if, with intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein, he or she enters or remains unlawfully in a building and if, in entering or while in the building or in immediate flight therefrom, the actor or another participant in the crime (a) is armed with a deadly weapon, or (b) assaults any person.

The penalties for first-degree burglary domestic violence can include:

  • A lifetime jail sentence
  • Up to $50,000 in fines

What were the charges against Richard Sherman?

Sherman instead faces five lesser misdemeanor charges after prosecutors downgraded the charges from burglary domestic violence.

  • Criminal trespass in the second degree
  • Malicious mischief in the third degree
  • Resisting arrest
  • Driving while under the influence
  • Reckless endangerment of roadway workers

The misdemeanors carry varrying sentence lengths if Sherman is convicted, none more than a year in jail. He is expected to plead not guilty during an arraignment Friday.

Richard Sherman arrest timeline

  • Sherman was arrested at 6:08 a.m. PT July 14. He was denied bail. An extreme risk protection order was entered against him earlier in the year.
  • Sherman is also being investigated in a single-car hit-and-run accident. The vehicle involved was registered to him.
  • Sherman is a free agent. He played in five games for the 49ers in 2020, making 18 tackles and recording one interception.
  • Sherman was released on July 15. His charges were downgraded to criminal trespass, malicious mischief, DUI and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors. 
Author(s)
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Jacob Camenker
Jacob Camenker is a senior content producer at The Sporting News.
Peter Socotch
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