Posted: 04:15 PM ET May 17, 2012
By Will Brinson | Senior NFL Blogger
A judge in Decatur, Ala., found Rolando McClain guilty on three different charges Thursday and sentenced the Oakland linebacker to 180 days in jail.
McClain was also ordered to pay a $500 fine for each of the four charges -- Reckless Endangerment, Third-Degree Assault, Menacing and Discharging a Firearm -- totaling $2,000 in fines.
According to WAAYTV.COM, McClain has been freed on bail and can begin serving his prison sentence on June 1.
The alleged victim, Rishard Tapscott, claims that he was beaten by McClain and friend Jarodiaus Willingham.
"[McClain] just kept repeating he'd kill me, he'd blow my [bleep]ing head off," Tapscott testified according to WAAYTV.com.
According to Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune, McClain's lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, called the verdict from the Alabama judge "meaningless" and said that McClain will appeal. Steinberg also said that "the process starts all over again" now.
Here's the thing though: the NFL won't think that the verdict is meaningless, and they certainly won't think that testimony and video that emerged from McClain's trial are meaningless. And if McClain's "process" starts all over, it's possible that this will hang over his head for much of the summer, depending on how quickly the judge can hear his appeal.
Regardless of the outcome of his appeal, McClain already looks like a prime candidate for some sort of suspension from Roger Goodell, and McClain would miss part of the 2012 NFL season even if he began serving his jail time today.
Jolly spent only six months of his six-year sentence in prison. (US Presswire) Last November, former Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly was sentenced to six years in prison for violating his probation on previous drug charges.