Mark Grace gets jail time in DUI case

[Dback Jon]

Former Arizona Diamondbacks player and broadcaster Mark Grace has been sentenced to four months in jail as part of a plea agreement in a DUI case.

Grace pleaded guilty Thursday morning to endangerment and DUI, a misdemeanor. He is to report to jail on Feb. 10 and he will be granted work release.

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Mark-Grace-gets-jail-time-in-DUI-case-189224101.html

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Good. He deserves it. Hope it helps him finally get clean and sober.

 

[BC867]

Good. He deserves it. Hope it helps him finally get clean and sober.

I think he needs psychiatric sessions to shed his mischievous jock persona. He hasn't shown the personality to do it by himself. Jail time alone (especially as a celebrity) can't accomplish that.

Whether it was his call or that of the D'backs marketing department that his Racing Gracie would be the buffoon -- the loser -- he played right into it.

If he can't be good, he'll be the best bad he can. That attitude needs professional help.

 

[AZ Native]

Of course he did deserve it. Did he fight it with a team of lawyers or plea? I wonder what the average time is in a 2nd offense like this.

 

[AZ Native]

Here is my answer: http://www.azcentral.com/community/...e-to-plead-guilty-to-scottsdale-dui-abrk.html

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Of course he did deserve it. Did he fight it with a team of lawyers or plea? I wonder what the average time is in a 2nd offense like this.

You wouldn't get a plea deal if it was your second arrest in 15 months and you had 4 charges of aggravated DUI against you - including driving on a suspended license and tampering/removing an interlock device.

In reality - he skated. At least he has to spend hours in jail. He'll probably get that reduced before all is said and done too.

 

[AZ Native]

You wouldn't get a plea deal if it was your second arrest in 15 months and you had 4 charges of aggravated DUI against you - including driving on a suspended license and tampering/removing an interlock device.

In reality - he skated. At least he has to spend hours in jail. He'll probably get that reduced before all is said and done too.

Actually, he did plea. He was facing 3.75 years in prison. Here is the link:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/...e-to-plead-guilty-to-scottsdale-dui-abrk.html

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Actually, he did plea. He was facing 3.75 years in prison. Here is the link:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/...e-to-plead-guilty-to-scottsdale-dui-abrk.html

I understand that. I think you are confusing "plea agreement" and "pleading guilty."

He worked out a plea agreement that none of us would get. He pleaded guilty to one felony and one misdemeanor when he was facing four felony counts.

I'm saying the common man never gets the sweetheart plea agreement.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I understand that. I think you are confusing "plea agreement" and "pleading guilty."

He worked out a plea agreement that none of us would get. He pleaded guilty to one felony and one misdemeanor when he was facing four felony counts.

I'm saying the common man never gets the sweetheart plea agreement.

Eh somewhat true. It's not the celebrity that got him out of it, it was the high-priced attorney.

 

[BC867]

Isn't it ironic that two threads with the titles "Mark Grace gets jail time in DUI case" and "D-backs lock up Prado to four-year extension" are at this moment back-to-back in the same thread with totally opposite meanings?

 

[AZ Native]

Isn't it ironic that two threads with the titles "Mark Grace gets jail time in DUI case" and "D-backs lock up Prado to four-year extension" are at this moment back-to-back in the same thread with totally opposite meanings?

 

[AZ Native]

I understand that. I think you are confusing "plea agreement" and "pleading guilty."

He worked out a plea agreement that none of us would get. He pleaded guilty to one felony and one misdemeanor when he was facing four felony counts.

I'm saying the common man never gets the sweetheart plea agreement.

Actually Brian, I think we agree. He "pled guilty" to one felony and one misdemeanor but it is a "plea agreement".

I would still like to hear from anyone who knows if he got a great deal or if that is commonplace to avoid an expensive trial.

 

[Azlen]

Actually Brian, I think we agree. He "pled guilty" to one felony and one misdemeanor but it is a "plea agreement".

I would still like to hear from anyone who knows if he got a great deal or if that is commonplace to avoid an expensive trial.

95% of cases that result in felony convictions are plea bargained, so that part is common. I'm sure he got a better deal than the average person with a public defender would get but rich people with well paid attorneys usually do. His celebrity probably didn't hurt much either.

 

[Phrazbit]

Mr Grace, where were you driving on the night in question?

"Center lane... right down Broadway!"

 

[BC867]

A COLD WAKE-UP CALL FOR HUMBLED GRACE

Two nights down. One hundred and eighteen left. Already, Mark Grace has learned some valuable lessons in Tent City.

“It’s cold … really cold,” he said. “Go ahead and put the thermostat on 40 degrees in your bedroom and see how you like it.”

Not that he is complaining. He knows he’s one of the lucky ones...

After two DUI arrests in a 15-month span, Grace lost his lucrative gig as Diamondbacks color commentator. Yet the team recently rehired him as a special instructor, providing the lifeline that allows Grace to serve his jail time under the work-release program.

So in the end, Grace is blessed all over again. He gets to wear a uniform and not a jumpsuit. He’s spared the indignity of pink underwear. He reports every night at 6p.m., and is released 12 hours later.

I expect there are going to be opposing reactions to this article. Mine is that the D'backs are making a mistake by conspiring to arrange preferential treatment for Grace as he begins his sentence following his repeated arrests.

Rewarding him at the start of his punishment period defeats part of the purpose of him paying his dues, in hopes of his someday driving responsibly and setting a good example for young Diamondbacks fans.

His constant joking references on TV to "adult beverages" (circumventing the rule about not glorifying "beer") portrayed him as a wise guy looking to break the rules.

Let him serve his sentence as you or I would have to. Then, if the D'backs wish, hire him back and give him a second chance.

It is interesting that the article refers to his desire to become a Manager. The Suns chose to pass over Dan Majerle as interim Head Coach partially, I presume, because he has the mindset of an adolescent. Grace makes Majerle look like a choir boy.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f5/mark-grace-gets-jail-time-in-dui-case-191010.html

 

[UncleChris]

I would point out that Grace is hardly the only prisoner who goes out on work release.

As to the D-Backs hiring him, the other side of your coin, BC, is that the team is taking care of their own. He played a major part in bringing the D-Backs to a world championship and many people, including me, liked him as the color guy. There is nothing illegal, illicit or shady about what they are doing, particularly if the team is working with him in whatever ways they can (read AA here) to help him shed the albatross of alcoholism. Supposedly, Gibby is on him about this.

 

[BC867]

I would point out that Grace is hardly the only prisoner who goes out on work release.

As to the D-Backs hiring him, the other side of your coin, BC, is that the team is taking care of their own. He played a major part in bringing the D-Backs to a world championship and many people, including me, liked him as the color guy. There is nothing illegal, illicit or shady about what they are doing, particularly if the team is working with him in whatever ways they can (read AA here) to help him shed the albatross of alcoholism. Supposedly, Gibby is on him about this.

I agree with your 2nd paragraph and admire the D'backs taking care of their own. But, as I posted, "Let him serve his sentence as you or I would have to. Then, if the D'backs wish, hire him back and give him a second chance."

Which leads back to your 1st paragragh. Grace is, of course, not the only prisoner who goes out on work release. But he is the only one the D'backs rehired so quickly only to be able to get him a cushier schedule.

He needs tough love at this point, not coddling.

 

[Passepartout]

If it were a normal person like us, we would be sentenced for more than up to four years or so!

 

[Dback Jon]

I agree with your 2nd paragraph and admire the D'backs taking care of their own. But, as I posted, "Let him serve his sentence as you or I would have to. Then, if the D'backs wish, hire him back and give him a second chance."

Which leads back to your 1st paragragh. Grace is, of course, not the only prisoner who goes out on work release. But he is the only one the D'backs rehired so quickly only to be able to get him a cushier schedule.

He needs tough love at this point, not coddling.

Agree on this

 

[TJ]

If it were a normal person like us, we would be sentenced for more than up to four years or so!

And probably working at Taco Bell adter being released as opposed to working for the D-Backs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BC867]

Update

Mark Grace has completed his sentence at Tent City and has been released. He will be a full-time Minor League coach with the D'backs.

He intends to spread the word on the dangers of alcohol. It will be interesting to see how well that is taken, because he is personally making no commitment to stop drinking. Just to not drive when he drinks.

That sounds like a fielders choice, Mark, not a double play.

Oh well, as long as I don't have to listen to his childish antics and repeating the same thing over and over in order to watch the D'backs on TV.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/...remains-in-lineup-as-a-minorleague-coach.html

 

[Mulli]

Interesting choice of words "dangers of alcohol." People who drink normally have little danger.

 

[Dback Jon]

I wish the Dbacks hadn't hired him back unless he entered AA and was 100% sober

 

[UncleChris]

I wish the Dbacks hadn't hired him back unless he entered AA and was 100% sober

...or perhaps hired him back with the proviso that he regularly attend AA and that he would remain 100% alcohol free while employed. The man is, in fact an alcoholic/drug addict.

Statistically, he is likely to fail, sadly. But separating him (or anyone else) from employment only increases the odds of failure. Depending on individual circumstances, of course, employers do everyone a favor by trying to work with employees with drug/alcohol problems, rather than tossing them aside like a used condom. Fortunately, this scenario is becoming more commonplace through various employee assistance programs.

Just my "based upon experience" opinion.

 

[devilalum]

...or perhaps hired him back with the proviso that he regularly attend AA and that he would remain 100% alcohol free while employed. The man is, in fact an alcoholic/drug addict.

Statistically, he is likely to fail, sadly. But separating him (or anyone else) from employment only increases the odds of failure. Depending on individual circumstances, of course, employers do everyone a favor by trying to work with employees with drug/alcohol problems, rather than tossing them aside like a used condom. Fortunately, this scenario is becoming more commonplace through various employee assistance programs.

Just my "based upon experience" opinion.

He should have gone to work for the Cubs. Harry Carry worked drunk for them for about 40 years.
I don't think anybody in Chicago would care if they changed their name to the Chicago Budweisers.