NFL’s Donte’ Stallworth bonds out in DUI manslaughter charge

Holding his mother’s hand, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth walked out of a Miami-Dade County jail after noon Thursday after posting bond on a charge of DUI manslaughter.

”I just want to extend my condolences to the Reyes family. My prayers are with them,” Stallworth told reporters and a gaggle of cameras waiting outside the jail. “I have full confidence and faith in the legal process.”

The pro football player was then whisked away in a silver Lexus.

Earlier in the morning, Stallworth surrendered to authorities and made a brief appearance in front of Miami-Dade Judge Dennis Murphy before being led away in handcuffs for booking at the jail.

Dressed in a black suit and with his hair pulled back, Stallworth arrived at the courthouse early Thursday morning for a brief hearing related to the terms of his pretrial release.

He will be allowed to live in Florida and Ohio. But he must tell the court before traveling between the two places and must seek permission to travel elsewhere.

He also cannot drive and will have a curfew: midnight to 6 a.m.

An arraignment is set for April 23.

Blood tests revealed Stallworth had a blood alcohol level of .126 after the March 14 crash that killed Mario Reyes, 59.

His bond is $200,000 on the charge, a felony that carries a minimum of four years to a maximum of 15 years in prison.

”We are going to vigorously defend these accusations in a court of law,” Stallworth’s attorney, Christopher Lyons, said at a brief press conference in the courtroom hallway, standing next to Stallworth’s mother, Donna.

”Football is the last thing on his mind right now,” Lyons said. “His focus is on his family and the Reyes family.”

Miami Beach police said that prior to the crash, Stallworth had been drinking at club Liv at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach before leaving to go to a home in Miami, where he arrived about 6:15 a.m.

He was returning to Miami Beach about an hour later when he struck Reyes, who was crossing the MacArthur Causeway.

The arrest warrant said Stallworth was standing outside his car when officers arrived. According to police, Stallworth admitted he had been driving the car and said, “I hit the man lying in the road.”

Stallworth later told police at the Miami Beach police station that ”he had time to honk his horn and flash his headlights” to warn Reyes, who was not in a crosswalk.

The Browns have released a statement saying they were ”disappointed” by Stallworth’s actions and that the league commissioner was reviewing the situation.

He also will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing through the National Football League’s program for substance abuse.