Albert Haynesworth pleaded no contest to simple assault in D.C. Superior Court Monday a day before he was to go to trial on a misdemeanor sexual abuse charge for allegedly groping a waitress, News4's Pat Collins reported.
The government is dropping the sexual abuse charge. Haynesworth must perform 160 hours of community service, stay away from the waitress and not get arrested for the next 18 months. He also agreed to alcohol abuse and psychosocial assessments and a $250. His record will be cleared if he accomplishes all of this within18 months, Collins reported.
The former Washington Redskins defensive lineman was accused of sliding his credit card into a waitress's bra and touching her breast last February at the upscale W Hotel. The waitress had her hands full with glasses when Haynesworth tried to pay the bill, according to the police report. He asked if he could put his credit card in her blouse and she said yes. But the waitress alleged that Haynesworth went further by sticking his hand down her shirt, asking if that was OK and fondling her though she told him it wasn't OK.
In court Monday afternoon, the prosecution said it could prove the allegations against Haynesworth if the case went to trial. Haynesworth said he did not contest the government's statement of the facts, Collins reported.
In May, Haynesworth’s attorney, A. Scott Bolden, said his client refused a plea deal offered by the prosecution and was anxious to defend himself.
"This was a difficult time for him, his family and others connected to him," Bolden said Monday. "We put up a good fight; the U.S. attorney put up a good fight, and this resolution was welcome by us."
Last week, both sides filed motions that included payoff allegations.
Bolden said a private investigator was told by a bouncer at the W Hotel that he was offered $50,000 on behalf of a person who he believed was the waitress.
According to a motion filed by the prosecution Thursday, the defense said the person making the offer was introduced to the bouncer by the waitress. The prosecution contended the bouncer said he assumed the person was acting on behalf of the waitress because the waitress's attorney was at the hotel that day, but the person never mentioned the waitress by name and the waitress did not introduce the person to the bouncer.
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In the motion, the prosecution argued that if the defense's story about the $50,000 offer was allowed into evidence, the government should be able to rebut with "concrete" evidence of monetary offers made by Haynesworth's defense to the waitress's lawyer if the waitress would urge the government to dismiss the case.
On Monday, Bolden said the waitress has not been paid in connection with the plea deal.
The Washington Redskins traded Haynesworth to the New England Patriots last month. Haynesworth said "Go Patriots" twice as he entered D.C. Superior Court Monday afternoon, Collins reported.
