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Marshawn Lynch's DUI Trial To Begin Wednesday

Originally posted on FanNation Seahawk Maven
By Jonathan Alfano | Last updated 2/20/24

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is set to go on trial for a 2022 DUI arrest at Las Vegas Municipal Court on Wednesday.

Lynch, 37, was found asleep in his car, which was unlicensed and in "an undrivable condition" near the Las Vegas strip on the morning of Aug. 9, 2022. The arrest report states that Lynch refused to take a breathalyzer and when he gave a blood sample, his blood alcohol level was 0.18, over twice the legal limit.

According to KLAS, Las Vegas' CBS affiliate, Lynch faces charges of DUI liquor and/or drugs, driving an unlicensed vehicle and failure to drive in a travel lane. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfield, Lynch's lawyers, have argued that Lynch's case does not constitute a DUI, but according to Nevada state law, anyone sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle is deemed to be "in physical control" of said vehicle, regardless of whether the engine is on or not.

“While [the officer] claims to have ‘observed [sic] a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the vehicle, his person, and his breath,’ no evidence proves that Mr. Lynch drank anything or actually operated the vehicle on the night of the encounter,” Chesnoff and Schonfeld previously wrote in court documents, per KLAS.

Lynch also faced multiple legal issues throughout his playing career. He pled guilty to a hit and run charge while playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2008, which led to his driver's license being revoked. He was also arrested for DUI in California in 2012, although later pled guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving in 2014.

Lynch played with the Seahawks for seven seasons, rushing for 6,381 yards and 58 touchdowns while earning four Pro Bowl selections.

This article first appeared on FanNation Seahawk Maven and was syndicated with permission.

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