An Ohio University football player pleaded no contest to drunken driving charges yesterday.
OU running back Donte Harden was found guilty of one count of operating a vehicle under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor, after pleading no contest before Athens County Municipal Court Judge William Grim. Harden will have to pay a $375 fine.
Harden, a 21-year-old sophomore from Erie, Pa., was arrested in February after police watched his car cross the center line four times on North Lancaster Street at about 2:30 a.m. Harden took and failed three field sobriety tests, according to police reports.
Harden told officers that he only had one beer and had stopped drinking about seven minutes before he was pulled over, according to police reports.
A Breathalyzer test measured his blood alcohol content at 0.093 - 0.013 above the legal limit in Ohio.
While on probation, Harden may not operate a vehicle with alcohol or drugs in his system. He must also complete a driver intervention program within 90 days. If Harden violates the terms of his probation or breaks any law, he could spend 30 days in jail and pay an additional fine of $350.
This was Harden's first offense. He continues to play on the football team.
Another football player, Andrew Joseph A.J. Oxley,, was arrested April 10 for drunkenly driving down Court Street and hitting several cars. Oxley was suspended from the team.
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Marika Lee
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