NFL Player charged with DUI Manslaughter

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth was charged Wednesday with killing a pedestrian last month while driving drunk after a night out at a South Beach nightspot in Miami Beach, Florida. Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured much of the year. He previously played for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

An arrest warrant charging Stallworth, 28, with DUI manslaughter was filed in the March 14 accident that killed a 59-year-old construction crane operator who was trying to catch a bus home after finishing his shift around 7:15 a.m..  According to results of a blood test, Stallworth's blood-alcohol level after the crash was .126, well above the legal limit of .08.  If convicted, Stallworth would face as many as 15 years in prison.

Under California law a manslaughter charge is based on whether the facts indicate a defendant was acting with gross negligence in operating the vehicle, or simple negligence. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is considered to be gross negligence.