N. Dame's Yeatman enters plea agreement on drunken driving charge

By TOM COYNE, AP Sports Writer

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Will Yeatman

Will Yeatman (Photo provided)

By Beth Boehne

SOUTH BEND (AP) — Notre Dame tight end Will Yeatman, suspended indefinitely from the team following his arrest last month after allegedly driving drunk on a campus sidewalk, has agreed to plead guilty to reckless driving.

Prosecutors agreed under the deal signed Monday to dismiss a criminal recklessness charge, and the 19-year-old sophomore agreed to plead guilty to drunken driving and reckless driving. If he stays out of trouble for a year, the agreement calls for the state to move that the drunken driving charge also be dismissed.

The Associated Press left a message seeking comment Thursday at the office of Yeatman's attorney, Anthony Zappia. Yeatman, who is still enrolled at school, could not be reached for comment because there was no telephone listing for him.

The criminal recklessness charge was the most serious offense, carrying a maximum sentence of a year in jail. The drunken driving charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and the reckless driving charge up to 60 days in jail. All the charges are misdemeanors.

Yeatman, who also was suspended indefinitely from the lacrosse team, was accused of driving a car on a campus sidewalk with his headlights off at 2:49 a.m. Jan. 28. According to a probable cause affidavit, he had a blood-alcohol content of 0.11 percent at the time. The legal limit in Indiana is 0.08.

The plea agreement also calls for Yeatman to have ignition interlock equipment installed in his car for six months. The device requires him to blow into the equipment to start his car. If he has alcohol on his breath, the car won't start.

He also will have to attend a session where victims or family members of victims of drunken driving crashes talk about how their lives have been affected by drunken drivers. He also will be subject to at least one drug test and possibly as many as three.

The plea agreement says that if Yeatman stays out of trouble, the prosecutor's office would request that he not face any further fines or penalties.

Football coach Charlie Weis was traveling Thursday and could not be reached for comment on Yeatman's status following the plea agreement. Earlier this month, Weis said he hoped Yeatman would play in the fall.

Yeatman played in all 12 games for the Irish last season and started three, making six catches for 37 yards. A strong blocker, Yeatman was expected to challenge for a starting spot next season with the graduation of starter John Carlson.

Saturday, Mar 1 at 9:13 PM Rat wrote ...

You should test the football players for prescription drug misuse too.....there seems to be a lot of that too.....esp. misuse of ADHD meds, but then again a lot of non-football players misuse it too.

Saturday, Mar 1 at 10:31 AM Anonymous wrote ...

As Alum MD pointed out "the number of deaths across the country from alchohol related accidents and alchohol poisoning is staggering" and is a known problem at ND including many ambulance runs. With that known problem, one has to ask why isn't ND a dry campus like so many other universities in Indiana? A dry campus would be a start in helping to reduce alcohol problems. When freshman can possess and consume alcohol without interference from NDSP in their ND dorm rooms, the problem starts there.

Friday, Feb 29 at 11:28 PM Thomas T. wrote ...

There is a ton of alcohol and drugs on campus at Notre Dame (no arrests on campus though since its an arrest "safe haven" for students). The football team indulges a lot and they really ought to do drug testing it is that crazy. Some exclusive off campus pads are wild with group sex that would make a porn star blush......esp. at Dublin Village. SMC girls need a lesson on chastity. Surprised only one football player has been arrested in 2008 so far.

Friday, Feb 29 at 9:49 PM ND Alum MD JD LLM wrote ...

Moreoever, there are more than a few ND administrators that need disciplined too.

Friday, Feb 29 at 9:48 PM ND Alum MD JD LLM wrote ...

ND Alum MD - I thought ND was supposed to be better than all the other schools blah blah blah. At least that is what they brainwashed me on as an undergrad. Fact is alcohol is worse on ND campus than other schools in Indiana because most other schools have dry campuses. Sure off-campus parties have alcohol, but those students aren't immersed in the on-campus alcohol culture like ND. it is a big problem at ND and ND enables it. They could stop most of it with stroke of a pen.

Friday, Feb 29 at 9:15 PM ND Alum MD wrote ...

Anyone who thinks that alchohol problems are worse at ND than other colleges is greatly mistaken. The number of deaths across the country from alchohol related accidents and alchohol poisoning is staggering. As to the contention that this young man with his first offense is receiving special treatment because he is a ND athlete is mistaken. First he has not been sentenced yet, Secondly, the University has not decided on any disciplinary action as of yet.Similar cases at FSU,PSU,Alabama,etc

Friday, Feb 29 at 5:30 PM LifeAintFair... wrote ...

Unfortunately, I made the decision to drink and drive, garnering a DUI. I take full responsibility for my actions. With that said, it is extremely unfair that a Notre Dame athlete gets one and basically pleads it down to nothing. I got NO leniency, NO options, and it cost a fortune. Learned MY lesson...just wondering what this is teaching THIS young man.

Friday, Feb 29 at 4:10 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Go Irish, Beat Convictions. Maybe next year, instead of the green 70's uniforms we'll get to see a few orange jumpsuits instead.

Friday, Feb 29 at 3:21 PM Who, what, why, where? wrote ...

19 year old. Where was he drinking? Who gave him the alcohol? Maybe the ND detectives don't ask such questions because they'd be fired if they did!

Friday, Feb 29 at 2:28 PM exRA wrote ...

ND is an enabler to all the alcohol problems. Woulda made my job a lot easier if dorms were dry, then wouldn't have had to baby sit all the drunks. The administration sets the policy and must be afraid to do the right, and legal, thing.

Friday, Feb 29 at 1:41 PM Drunken Domers wrote ...

Anon - you are correct, drinking still takes place on dry campuses, but not nearly to the blatant extent that it does at ND. For a school that loves to present itself as upstanding and moral (image is one thing, reality another), I can't understand why ND isn't a dry campus when it has such a huge problem with alcohol? They could stop 80% of the alcohol problems by simply making ND a dry campus but ND must have a vested interest in letting these kids drink with abandon. It comes down to $.

Friday, Feb 29 at 12:56 PM Love2Drink wrote ...

I hope if I ever get a DUI that Charlie Weiss will come to court with me and get me lesser charges.

Friday, Feb 29 at 8:08 AM Anon wrote ...

Yes I agree with you that freshman drink from the moment they get to ND and there is a lot of alcohol in dorms but the campuses that are dry also have alcohol in their dorms I'm sure.

Friday, Feb 29 at 1:33 AM Drunken Domers wrote ...

Yet another example of underage alcohol use by an ND student. I'm telling you, there is a culture of alcohol abuse at ND that starts from the moment freshman step foot in their dorms. ND could stop it by banning alcohol from the dorms...but they won't do that. Most Indiana campuses are dry, but not ND which has a huge problem with alcohol. Students drive drunk and some died because of it. ND is a hypocrite.

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