A King County (Wash.) District Court judge Thursday ordered the release of NFL star Richard Sherman, who faces four misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor charges, per the Seattle Times.
Sherman waived his first court appearance. Prosecutors asked for bail in the amount of $10,000 but Judge Fa’amomoi Masaniai released Sherman on his own recognizance.
“I see Mr. Sherman is a pillar in this community, he’s a business owner, he’s a husband, he’s a father,” Judge Masaniai said, per Audacy Sports. “I’m gonna release Mr. Sherman.”
In addition, Masaniai ruled that Sherman not have contact with his father-in-law.
Sherman will not face felony charges after initially being booked on domestic-violence burglary. Instead, Sherman faces charges of second degree criminal trespass, third degree malicious mischief, resisting arrest and driving under the influence of alcohol, per the Times.
Sherman was arrested in Redmond, Wash., early Wednesday morning after attempting to break into his in-laws’ house.
“My kids were not harmed in the incident. He’s a good person and this is not his character,” Ashley Moss, Sherman’s wife, told the Seattle Times. “I want people to know no one was injured.”
Seattle-based radio station KIRO-FM obtained audio of the 911 call Moss made before Sherman left his home overnight.
“I need officers to my house now,” Moss told the 911 operator. “My husband is drunk and threatened to kill himself.”
Sherman was located outside the home when police arrived and initially fought with police to the point that a K9 dog was deployed to help bring him into custody, police said.
Both Sherman and the responding officer sustained minor injuries as a result of the K9 deployment and ensuing altercation, and Sherman was taken to a local hospital before later booked into the King County Correctional Facility.
Sherman, a free agent, is a vice president on the NFL Player Association’s executive committee.
Sherman, 33, missed a career-high 11 games last season for the San Francisco 49ers. The five-time Pro Bowl selection recorded 18 tackles and one interception in five games before being released in February.
In the previous season, Sherman collected 61 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defended in 15 games while making his fifth Pro Bowl.
Sherman’s first seven seasons were spent with the NFC West rival Seahawks, with whom he made two Super Bowl appearances (winning one) and grabbed 32 interceptions. Sherman also earned three first-team All-Pro selections from 2012-14 as part of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” defense.
–Field Level Media
