LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska football player Maurice Purify
pleaded no contest to four criminal charges Wednesday as part of a
deal with prosecutors. He awaits word from coach Bill Callahan
about how long his suspension from the team will last.
A Lancaster County judge sentenced the standout wide receiver to
a year of probation and fined him $1,250.
During that time, Purify won't be allowed to enter a bar or any
other business that primarily sells alcohol, and he'll have to
attend drug and alcohol counseling.
And for 60 days, Purify will have the choice of either not
driving or having a device attached to his car ignition that will
make sure he is sober before he can start the car.
Purify was found guilty of driving while intoxicated, assault,
disturbing the peace and hindering arrest. All those charges stem
from two incidents earlier this year.
A spokesman for Callahan said the coach had no comment but would
address the issue in the next few days.
Purify was arrested May 5 and charged with two counts of
assault, among other things, in connection with an altercation at a
Lincoln bar. Last month he was cited on suspicion of driving while
intoxicated.
As part of the agreement with prosecutors, one of the assault
charges and a charge of refusing to obey a police order were
dropped. Also, a trespassing charge was reduced to disturbing the
peace.
Purify was suspended indefinitely from the team in June. He
apologized for his actions and said he didn't know how long he'll
be suspended.
"I do not know if I will be fortunate enough to play another
game at Nebraska," Purify said in a statement. "I hope that I can
be afforded a second chance to do what I love to do -- play football
for Nebraska."
Purify apologized in his statement to family, friends, teammates
and Callahan.
Purify's attorney Jon Braaten said the plea deal was
appropriate.
"It's the exact same sentence anyone else would get in this
circumstance," Braaten said.
Purify played at City College of San Francisco before joining
Nebraska.
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