Raiders coach Jon Gruden has accepted a plea-bargain to avoid drunken-driving charges.
Through his attorney, Christine Arguedas, Gruden pleaded no contest to alcohol-related reckless driving in Alameda County Superior Court in Pleasanton (Calif.) on Feb. 23, 1999.He was ordered to pay a fine of $750 and placed on three years' probabtion by Judge Christine Moruza.
Gruden, 35, was arrested Oct. 11 on the suspicion of drunken driving in Pleasanton approximately three hours after Oakland's 7-6 victory over San Diego. His blood alcohol level was 0.10, 25 percent over the legal limit of 0.80.
Had Gruden been convicted of drunken-driving charges, he faced up to six months in jail, a $1,400 fine and a 90-day suspension or restriction of his driver's license. He was scheduled to stand trial on March 1 before accepting the plea deal.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles will decide if Gruden will attend DUI school for first-time offenders. The coach also faces possible disciplinary action by the NFL for an alcohol-related offense.
