Chris Rainey pleads no contest to disorderly conduct

[zulater]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/89...est-pays-fines
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Chris Rainey has pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct and paid nearly $500 in fines and court costs as a result of his arrest last month after an altercation with a woman over a cell phone.

According to Alachua County court records, Rainey was fined $210 and ordered to pay $276 in court costs by Judge Walker M. Green. Green also withheld adjudication in the case, which was settled on Thursday. The records also show that Rainey paid the fines on Friday.

Rainey was arrested on Jan. 10 at a Gainesville, Fla., apartment complex. According to a Gainesville Police Department release, witnesses said Rainey and the female victim were arguing over Rainey's cellphone and Rainey pulled the woman out of a vehicle that belonged to his roommate and then slapped her in the face with an open hand.

Rainey, a former standout at the University of Florida, and the woman fell to the ground, and then Rainey chased the woman and grabbed her bag to retrieve his cellphone, the release said. The two fell again. The release said neither Rainey nor the woman suffered visible injuries.

Rainey was charged with simple battery (dating violence), a first-degree misdemeanor.

The Steelers released Rainey several hours after his arrest.

[steeldawg]

i guess that fake email from the neighbor didnt work?

[zulater]

i guess that fake email from the neighbor didnt work?

Disorderly conduct isn't domestic violence. This is a strike against him, but he still should get another chance in the league. So it was smart of him to get this behind him before NFL free agency starts. Had he taken his case all the way to court it might have kept anyone from signing him, even if he was eventually cleared.

Put it this way, if the state had a provable case of domestic violence, given Rainey's history they wouldn't have let him off with a slap on the wrist.

Hopefully he learns from this and becomes a better human being.