Saturday, January 12, 2002
Bellisari begins DUI sentence
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — Former Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari on Friday began serving a three-day jail sentence for drunken driving.
Bellisari showed up at the Franklin County jail shortly before his scheduled arrival time of 12:30 p.m., said Maj. Michael Herrell, the jail supervisor.
The jail was able to accommodate Bellisari's request for a single-person cell, Herrell said.
“He has never been in jail before, and he's afraid of the unknown,” defense attorney Samuel Weiner said. “He'd rather be by himself.”
“We're going to treat him like anybody else,” Herrell said. “We average between 35 to 70 of these guys every weekend.”
Bellisari, 21, was stopped by university police Nov.16 and charged with drunken driving because his blood-alcohol limit was .22 percent — more twice the legal .10 percent limit in Ohio.
He pleaded no contest Nov.28 and was sentenced to three days in jail and three days in an alcohol diversion program. His driver's license was suspended for six months.
Bellisari sat out two games after his arrest but passed for 320 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-28 loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl Jan.1.
Coach Jim Tressel suspended Bellisari for Ohio State's game against Illinois the day after his arrest. He was reinstated for the Michigan game the following week, but never left the sidelines in the Buckeyes' 26-20 victory.
Bellisari returned to the field for the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day and ended his college career with the best performance of his three years as a starter.
He passed for 320 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score as the Buckeyes rallied from 28 points down to tie South Carolina, before losing 31-28.
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Bellisari begins DUI sentence
