Raiders middle linebacker Rolando McClain was found guilty Thursday of assault, reckless endangerment, menacing and wrongful discharge of a firearm by a Decatur (Ala.) Municipal Court judge, the television station WHNT-19 reported.
McClain was sentenced to 180 days in jail. It’s unclear how much of that time he actually will serve in jail. He was released on bond and will appeal the ruling, according to his lawyer.
The Raiders issued the following statement, in a press release:
“The Raiders are well aware of the proceedings in the Alabama courts today. The team will continue to closely monitor the legal process, understanding that when appropriate the NFL will review the situation under its personal conduct policy.”
Earlier in the day, Jaradious Williams, the co-defendant along with McClain in the case, pleaded guilty to 90 days in jail and approximately $300 in fines and testified against McClain.
McClain can appeal the verdict to a Circuit Court, which would include a jury trial.
McClain’s lawyer, Harvey Steinberg said of the ruling, “This is meaningless. We get a jury trial. Most lawyers say, ‘Let’s stipulate and start all over.’ I wanted to put this on so we could show how ridiculous this entire situation is. It truly is. There’s no basis for it.
“Our feeling was that we should go through it so we could put out there that Rolando did very little, if anything, wrong. He certainly didn’t do anything criminal. He ceertainly didn’t do anything wrong. This was the only procedure we had to follow other than doing the stipulation so we could get a trial to a jury. By doing it this way, we wanted to put out there the fact that this is a case we would humbly suggest is much ado about nothing.”
The conviction stems from an incident Nov. 30, with the victim, Rishard Tapscott, the victim of an alleged assault. Tapscott said McClain threatened to kill him and put a gun next to his ear and fired it.
McClain was in Alabama at the time attending the funeral of a relative.
He could also face discipline from the NFL and the Raiders for violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.
