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Jury selected Janikowski bribery trial begins Tuesday
Posted: Tuesday June 13, 2000 11:36 AM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Star kicker Sebastian Janikowski goes to trial Tuesday, facing a bribery charge that could result in deportation to his native Poland. A jury of four men and two women will hear the case against the two-time All-American from Florida State who was the top draft pick of the Oakland Raiders. The 22-year-old player is accused of offering a police officer $300 outside a local night spot earlier this year to release his roommate who had been refused service by the club. Janikowski faces up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine and possible deportation if convicted. "It's nerve-wracking for him, it would be for anybody," defense attorney Steve Dobson said Monday. "He's nervous and worried. He's like all of us and just wants the true facts to come out." The jury selection took about two hours, including the time it took for Dobson and co-counsel Deeno Kitchen to agree with assistant state attorney Lee Jantzen on the panel. Of the original 21 people seated for jury consideration, all had heard of Janikowski and many were Florida State football fans. The defense will claim Janikowski, who began speaking English six years ago, simply thought he was paying his roommate's fine. "The question is whether a crime was committed," said Kitchen, who showed the juror pool a sign that had the definition for corruption on it. "That's going to be the question." Jantzen said he plans to call two witnesses, including arresting officer Chris Knight, a former city police officer who was working off duty Jan. 22 as a bouncer at the club. Knight was once reprimanded in his police career for telling two subjects they had no rights during an arrest, Kitchen said. Janikowski kicked 50 field goals for the Seminoles the past two seasons, and many of his kickoffs flew through the end zone. He was the 17th overall pick in the NFL draft, the first kicker to be chosen in the first round since New Orleans selected Russell Erxleben of Texas with the 11th pick in 1979. Janikowski had one year eligibility remaining when he decided to turn pro. He did not return to school after Florida State's 46-29 national championship Sugar Bowl victory Jan. 4 against Virginia Tech.
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