LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -Nebraska wide receiver Maurice Purify pleaded no contest to four charges Wednesday as part of a deal with prosecutors. He awaits word from coach Bill Callahan about disciplinary action.
A Lancaster County judge sentenced him to a year of probation and fined him $1,250.
Purify was found guilty of driving while intoxicated, assault, disturbing the peace and hindering arrest. The charges stem from two incidents earlier this year.
While on probation, Purify won’t be allowed to enter a bar or any business that primarily sells alcohol, and he must attend drug and alcohol counseling. For 60 days, Purify will have the choice of not driving or having a device attached to his car ignition that will ensure he is sober before he can start the vehicle.
A spokesman for Callahan said the coach had no comment but would address the issue in the next few days. Purify was suspended indefinitely from the team last month.
“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 led the Cornhuskers in receiving yards last season, with 34 catches for 630 yards and seven touchdowns.
Purify was arrested May 5 and charged on several counts, including two for assault, after 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 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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