Kentucky releases statement on Chris Rodriguez's absence from arraignment hearing
Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez appeared to be complicating his off-field legal matter by not attending court Friday. UK has now released a statement on the situation, explaining there was a scheduling issue with Rodriguez’s attorneys, who were to attend on his behalf.
WKYT reported Friday that a warrant was issued for the arrest of Rodriguez after he did not show up to court Friday for an arraignment hearing. This past Sunday, Rodriguez was stopped by UK police on Nicholasville Road. The arrest report states Rodriguez faces charges of careless driving, no tail lamps and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol after refusing a test.
Kentucky released a statement to the media Friday afternoon. Joshua Moore of the Herald-Leader was among the reporters to share UK’s statement explaining Rodriguez’s court absence was due to a scheduling mistake with his attorneys. The statement says Rodriguez was advised to not attend because they would attend on his behalf.
From UK re: Chris Rodriguez …
“We have confirmed with Chris’ attorneys that this was a scheduling mistake in their office. Chris was specifically advised by his attorneys not to attend because they would attend on his behalf. They are diligently working to get it corrected.”
— Joshua Moore (@JoshMooreHL) May 13, 2022
Rodriguez, who earned first-team All-SEC recognition from the AP in 2021, is entering his redshirt senior season at UK.
Sounds like he needs a new lawyer.
If he refused a test. Then he was probably drunk. No taillights. These athletes are just not acting with any intelligence anymore. Same goes for people driving over 100 miles per hour and all the other stupidity!!!! Both could have killed someone. It happens every day on the road!!!!!
PS. It’s time athletes regardless to how good they are, or who they play for. They need to pay a bigger price if they are really guilty!!!!!
Negan
“Not acting with intelligence.” This coming from you? you are the poster child for being unintelligent. Your momma had to have been on a 9 month bender.
Hey Negan, don’t you have recruiting duty for UGA.
Megan…does that apply to Georgia athletes also ? Oh no…it couldn’t as they are all 100% innocent, right ?
Negan you have this young man being guilty just because he refused to take a test. From the article it’s unclear if the test was a field sobriety test or an intoxilizer. There could be valid medical reasons for the refusal. As far as his failure to appear it’s common for lawyers to have their clients sign a waiver of appearance and if the lawyer fails to appear a warrant is issued for the client not the attorney.
Today’s athletes are probably not much worse than the ones 50 years ago. What’s different is media and internet coverage coupled with LEO not having discretion on taking someone home instead of arresting them makes the problem seem more common or frequent. In fact, I would venture to guess that today’s youth are less likely to get behind the wheel while impaired than those when I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s.
I clearly remember an All-American safety at UGA in the 60’s who was famous for being out partying on game night in his convertible wearing shades and a floorboard full of beer cans. Don’t get me wrong, as a former prosecutor, I in no way condone drinking and driving but I also believe today’s athletes are under much greater scrutiny than those of my generation. I’m sure glad I grew up when I did and not in today’s environment. Most of today’s athletes are very dedicated young people who work very hard to achieve their opportunities. I for one am willing to give them the benefit of a doubt.
That’s not what Negan said. I don’t think I’ve ever defended him before, but he clearly writes, probably and if. That’s not a conviction. But, Rodriguez was observed driving carelessly and then refused to take the test, that’s not a great sign for innocence. We should just let the court handle this.
Lawyers are useless and lazy for the most part
Precisely. Next time you get in legal trouble, definitely go it alone.. I’m sure it’ll work out great.
Since you know so much about it tell us the name of the lawyer that dropped the ball
Of course, the good ol’ scheduling (wink, wink) misunderstanding.
Kentucky will always be Kentucky. I assure you Tennessee’s star running back wouldn’t be driving a car without taillights, his team of lawyers would make the case a priority and show up to court on time.
I know that any SEC football player who’s arrested is News” but most of us have done similar or worse things in our life. Whether we were arrested or now was just blind-luck. The old saying was…”boys will be boys” and still is. We’ve all been there, more or less.
You got that right! Tennessee’s cops will be too busy arresting women to worry about any drunk driving football players!
OC Vols that’s not really a fair comparison. Tennessee’s players have had a lot more experience with criminal court than Kentucky’s players, so our guys aren’t as used to having court appearances or hiring defense lawyers.
CRod was coming back to break records. Looks like he is breaking the wrong kind of records. I hope he gets his act together.
CRod will be punished off the field and maybe miss 1 game. Just relax everyone