Richard Sherman Pleads Not Guilty On 5 Misdemeanor Charges

SEATTLE — Two days after his Redmond arrest, Richard Sherman walked hand-in-hand with his wife into the King County District Court in Seattle and pleaded not guilty to five misdemeanor charges. The former Seahawks cornerback was booked into jail early Wednesday morning after police alleged he drove drunk and crashed, attempted to break down the door at his in-laws' house, then resisted arrest.

Sherman waived his right to appear Thursday and was represented in court by an attorney. A judge found probable cause on four allegations and freed him on personal recognizance. In formal charges filed Friday morning, prosecutors added an extra misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment to roadway workers.

Here are the five misdemeanor charges filed Friday:

• Driving While Under the Influence (1st time: gross misdemeanor)
• Reckless Endangerment of Roadway Workers (gross misdemeanor)
• Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree – domestic violence (misdemeanor)
• Malicious Mischief in the Third Degree - domestic violence (gross misdemeanor)
• Resisting Arrest (misdemeanor)

The two charges with domestic violence designations are due to Sherman's relation to the victims and do not allege physical violence. In charging documents for the DUI allegations, Washington State Patrol said construction workers on State Route 520 called 911 to report an SUV that entered a closed lane, crashed and drove away. The workers later found the SUV in nearby Arby's parking lot, and WSP said the plates returned Sherman's information. He was arrested a couple of miles away, outside of his in-laws' house.

Sherman publicly addressed his arrest for the first time Friday morning, sharing a statement on social media.

At Friday afternoon's hearing before King County District Court Judge Lisa Paglisotti, Sherman pleaded not guilty and will remain free while the case proceeds under certain conditions. A modified court order prohibits "harmful or offensive contact" with his father-in-law, and forbids him from possessing weapons, consuming alcohol or taking non-prescription drugs.

During the first hearing Thursday, Judge Fa'amomoi Masaniai called Sherman a "pillar of the community" and noted Wednesday's arrest was his first. If convicted, sentencing for each misdemeanor charge will be determined by a judge, taking into account criminal history, prosecutors said. Sherman has no criminal history.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 13 at the King County District Courthouse in Redmond.