Special treatment for ex-49er Bryant?

Pleads no contest to reckless driving

By Ari Barak

May 13, 2007

Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Antonio Bryant on Thursday pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless driving after being pulled over by San Mateo police for speeding in November, according to the San Mateo County district attorney's office.

Bryant was released by the 49ers in March.

Appearing through his attorney in South San Francisco Superior Court days before his jury trial was scheduled to begin, Bryant agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $1,312 in fines, the district attorney's office reported.

A misdemeanor resisting arrest charge was dismissed as part of the plea bargain. A third charge of driving under the influence had earlier been dismissed by the district attorney's office.

According to prosecutors, Bryant, 26, was pulled over on U.S. Highway 101 on Nov. 19 after San Mateo police spotted an orange Lamborghini with no license plate driving at speeds over 120 mph.

Bryant allegedly refused field sobriety tests and a chemical test for blood-alcohol content, and also allegedly refused to submit to arrest and get into the police car.

Police were forced to take Bryant into custody using a "wrap" restraining device, the district attorney's office reported.

Before his release from the 49ers, Bryant was given a four-game NFL suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

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