NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge Tuesday formally accepted Darren Sharper's plea deal in a drug and rape case, making clear to the former NFL star that she could sentence him to 20 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo had earlier rejected a deal that could have meant a nine-year sentence. Attorneys say federal sentencing guidelines call for a sentence in the range of roughly 15 or 16 to 20 years. Prosecutors said in court Tuesday that they may recommend a lighter sentence, based on Sharper's cooperation in related cases.
Sentencing was set for June 16.
In addition to his federal guilty plea, Sharper has pleaded guilty or no-contest in state courts to charges that he drugged and sexually assaulted women in Arizona, California, and Louisiana.
Those charges involve nine victims, but Milazzo said in court earlier this month that there may be as many as 16.
Sharper has been sentenced to nine years in Arizona but still awaits formal sentencing in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and in state and federal courts in New Orleans.
Sharper, shackled and in orange prison garb, said little other than to answer basic, yes-or-no questions from Milazzo about whether he understood the implications of his plea deal. Asked if was entering the plea because he was, indeed, guilty, he replied, "Yes, ma'am."
There are two co-defendants in the Louisiana state and federal cases.
