Judge rejects plea deal in ex-NFL star Sharper’s rape case

Sharper was asked if he wanted to change his plea in light of the rejection by the judge, but he declined as defense attorneys indicated they wanted more time to consider their options.

A former Minnesota Vikings player has seen a plea deal he struck with the government for the drugging and rape of women across four states thrown out by a federal judge. Sharper faces at least nine years in prison after having pleaded guilty or no-contest to charges that he distributed drugs with the intent to commit rape in Nevada, Arizona and California.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo said that the court could not accept a bargain that is so far askew from sentencing guidelines.

The retired football star also has pleaded guilty in Louisiana state court to drugging and raping three women in two incidents in New Orleans in 2013 while he was working as an NFL Network analyst but has not yet been sentenced.

Milazzo noted a pre-sentence report compiled by federal authorities and federal sentencing guidelines that called for a sentence between 15 to 20 years.

Sharper’s trial is set to begin May 16.

“Usually, a federal plea agreement does not bind the judge as much as this one would have”, Tetlow said.

In Phoenix, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Warren Granville said Sharper will serve his time in federal custody and that the Louisiana case will be resolved through a federal court.

Sharper pleaded guilty in June to two counts of forcible rape and a charge of simple rape in the state case.

Sharper played 14 years in the National Football League, helping to lead the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl victory in 2010.