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Cleveland judge cites WR for not appearing

Friday, January 11, 2002

By Mike Bucsko, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress could be penalized the next time he's in Cleveland, and it won't have anything to do with yellow flags.

Plexico Burress: Another of life's lessons. (Matt Freed, Post-Gazette)

Cleveland Municipal Court officials have issued an arrest warrant for Burress because he failed to appear Monday for an arraignment on a charge of violating an open container law.

Cleveland police Officer Robert Garcia issued a citation to Burress at 1:45 a.m. Dec. 24 near The Flats neighborhood of the city, said George Yarbrough, spokesman for the Clerk of Municipal Court. The Flats is an entertainment district near downtown.

Burress was cited hours after the Steelers had beaten the Detroit Lions, 47-14, on Dec. 23. Burress and fellow wide receiver Hines Ward set a team record during the game as the team's most successful receiver tandem ever.

Burress was cited for having an open bottle of Corona beer. The citation, similar to a traffic ticket, required Burress or his representative to appear in court for arraignment Monday at 9 a.m., Yarbrough said.

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When Burress didn't appear, the court automatically issued a warrant for his arrest. The notification of the warrant was mailed to the Jacksonville, Fla., address Burress provided to police.

Burress said yesterday that he thought he had taken care of the matter by mailing a check to the court to cover the fine.

"I was in a car, I wasn't driving, that got pulled over and that was it," Burress said before Steelers' practice yesterday. "I had an open container, and they issued me a ticket. I paid it and I thought everything was taken care of."

To cancel the warrant and resolve the matter, Burress or his lawyer would have to contact the court clerk and arrange a time to appear before a judge. At that time, Burress could plead guilty and pay a fine, or plead not guilty and request a hearing, Yarbrough said.

While the maximum penalty for the open container violation is a $250 fine and 30 days in jail, Yarbrough said the case likely could be settled for a $50 fine and $65 in court costs. A judge sets the fine.

"This is so simple to take care of, if I was [Burress], I'd get it done quickly," Yarbrough said. "Certainly he has the money to take care of it.

"The likelihood of his being arrested if he comes back to Cleveland is pretty likely if he doesn't take care of this."

Sports writer Gerry Dulac contributed to this report.