UNM men’s basketball team player Chad Adams pleaded guilty to DWI first offense on Wednesday.
Adams was arrested for DWI, careless driving and driving on a suspended license May 1. His other charges were dismissed after he pleaded guilty.
Adams’ attorney Ben Ortega said Adams could have beaten the charges, but Adams wanted to set a good example by pleading guilty.
“Mr. Adams decided to plead guilty against my advice,” Ortega told the Albuquerque Journal. “I could have gotten him acquitted of these charges … A person has a right to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s their constitutional right … However, a person also has a right to take a guilty plea if their personal choices and their personal feelings about having a trial are such that they would rather take accountability for what happened.”
Adams’ sentence includes a year’s probation, 24 hours of community service and alcohol screening and treatment programs.
UNM’s head coach Steve Alford handed down his own set of punishments to his player. Adams is not allowed to own a car for the rest of his athletic career with the Lobos. Alford also stripped Adams of his scholarship, and required Adams to make a public apology and serve 20 hours of community service.
