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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
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NFL Star Seeks Deal on Domestic Assault

LAS VEGAS (CN) - Attorneys for former NFL defensive tackle Warren Sapp are negotiating with prosecutors on three misdemeanor counts of domestic battery, for which Sapp could be sentenced to up to 18 months in prison.

Sapp was scheduled for an initial appearance Thursday before Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Melanie Tobiasson, but neither Sapp nor his attorney Richard Tanasi appeared.

Instead, attorney K. Ryan Helmick of the Richard Harris Law Firm told Judge Tobiasson that negotiations are under way, and requested a status hearing, which Tobiasson scheduled for Aug. 20.

Sapp's legal troubles began on April 28 at a poolside cabana at the M Resort, where Las Vegas police say he threw a margarita at his girlfriend, Chalyce Moore, and violently pulled her before they drove to Moore's Las Vegas condo.

During the car ride, police say, they continued arguing and Sapp bit Moore's middle finger before arriving at her home, where police say more violence ensued. Sapp allegedly threw a belt at Moore and stepped on her face.

Sapp, 42, also was arrested for domestic battery in 2010, but the charges were dropped, and was arrested again in 2014, CBS Sports reported.

Sapp also ran afoul of the law during Super Bowl week in Phoenix this year, when he was arrested and charged with soliciting prostitution and assault on Feb. 2.

Sapp pleaded guilty in May and agreed to enroll in counseling programs to avoid jail time and have the prostitution charge dismissed. The assault charge will be dismissed upon successful completion of an anger management class.

Sapp played defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders. He helped Tampa Bay defeat Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII.

After retiring, Sapp worked as a football analyst and was covering the Super Bowl for the NFL Network when he was arrested in February. The network fired him the next day.

Sapp's attorney, Tanasi, was not immediately available for comment Thursday.

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