Wayne Carey to fight charges
AFL star Wayne Carey is preparing for a dogged legal battle in the US courts to clear his name and avoid time in an American jail, his US lawyer says.
Mr Carey, facing up to 15 years in jail if convicted of the serious assault and resist police charges for an incident in Miami in October, was offered a plea deal from US prosecutors that would result in a 366-day jail sentence in commute for guilty pleas.
Mr Carey’s Miami lawyer, Richard Sharpstein, said his client is not willing to accept a plea deal that will put him in jail.
A hearing is set for July 21 in Miami-Dade County Court.
"It’s unacceptable to him, so it’s unacceptable to me,” Mr Sharpstein said.
"So we fight on until we get a result we want or if the case is dismissed.”
Mr Carey was arrested when police were called to his room in Miami’s luxury Mandarin hotel.
Police profess Mr Carey kicked some officer in the mouth and elbowed another in the face.
The 36-year-old is charged with two felony counts of police battery and one felony count of resist arrest by severity.
"As of right now, he’s hired me to fight the case,” Mr Sharpstein said.
"If there’s a resolution that can be made that is satisfactory to him and everyone else, then we are happy to do that.
"Short of that, I believe he has hired me to fight.
"That’s what I’m trained to prepare.”
At a hearing in February, Mr Carey’s former US lawyer, Eric Marshall, incurred the wrath of Judge Rosa Rodriguez when the star did not appear in court.
Mr Sharpstein said he would tell Mr Carey to make the long journey from Australia to Miami be in court if the judge requests it.
"Whenever the judge says he has to be there, I’ll tell him he has to be there,” Mr Sharpstein said.
"As of right now, the hearing is July and unless and until he is told to be there, he is going to stay in Australia.”
Mr Carey also faces assault and resisting police charges in Australia for an incident at his Port Melbourne apartment in January.
The matter, in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, was adjourned on Thursday to June 30. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
