Aldon Smith has found himself in trouble with the law once again.
The former 49ers defensive end pleaded not guilty Tuesday following a DUI arrest earlier this month following a crash on an I-280 off-ramp in Redwood City.
Smith, 32, was arrested on the afternoon of Dec. 6 after allegedly rear-ending a Recology work truck, offering the truck driver $1,000 for a ride and asking him not to call the police, according to charging documents. The driver of the Recology truck suffered minor injuries.
California Highway Patrol officers responded to the scene and found two empty bottles of hard alcohol in Smith’s truck, court documents show.
Smith declined a field sobriety test but later took a blood test that showed a blood-alcohol content of .288 percent, District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe confirmed Thursday. Smith spent the night in jail.
He faces two felony charges filed Monday: DUI Causing Injury and Driving With BAC of .08% Causing Injury. He also faces misdemeanors charges for driving with open alcohol and marijuana containers. Officers found marijuana in his pockets at the scene, according to charging documents.
Smith’s attorney, Josh Bentley, has not yet returned calls Thursday afternoon seeking comment.
The former NFL star’s promising career was derailed by his off-field issues, including three prior DUI convictions in addition to domestic violence and battery charges. He’s been suspended three times — for nine games, one year and finally indefinitely, which turned out to be two seasons before a 2020 return.
The 49ers drafted him seventh overall out of Missouri in 2011 and he set an NFL record with 33.5 sacks in his first two seasons. But San Francisco released him in 2015 after a DUI arrest, his third since joining the team. The Raiders released him in 2018 after an arrest for domestic violence, battery and false imprisonment. Shortly thereafter, he was indefinitely suspended by the league.
In the 2020 offseason, he was reinstated and signed with the Cowboys, starting all 16 games. He signed this spring with Seattle before a battery arrest and release months later. He is currently an NFL free agent.
Smith is out of custody on a $50,000 bail bond and will be required to wear an alcohol monitor. His next court date is Jan. 4.
Source: www.mercurynews.com