Robinson could have charges dropped

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Posted: Wednesday February 03, 1999 01:08 AM

Eugene Robinson believes he will be found innocent of the charges AP

MIAMI (AP) -- Atlanta Falcons safety Eugene Robinson, arrested for soliciting an undercover police officer for sex the night before the Super Bowl, could have charges dropped through a diversion program.

"We will proceed against him like almost all people in his situation who get arrested for solicitation," Don Ungurait, a spokesman for the State Attorney's office in Miami-Dade County, said Monday.

"If there are no priors, it is certainly in the realm of probability that he will get an opportunity to go to a diversion program. ... If he was offered that type of program and he completed it, then the charges would be dropped against him."

Robinson, 35, got nabbed with about 25 others in a police sting targeting solicitation on Biscayne Boulevard, a major street in Miami frequented by prostitutes. He was driving alone in a rented car when he allegedly offered an undercover officer $40 for oral sex.

"I really believe and strongly believe I will be found innocent in this deal," Robinson said after the Falcons' 34-19 loss to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl on Sunday night.

Robinson will probably be arraigned within the next 30 days. If he is not offered pre-trial intervention, the player could face a maximum penalty of about 60 days if convicted, Ungurait said.

The arrest occurred about 12 hours after a Christian athletes group selected him the winner of an award for high moral character. His wife and children were in Miami at a nearby hotel for the Super Bowl.

Robinson, who also played in two Super Bowls with Green Bay, leads the NFL for interceptions among active players with 53.

"I talked to one of the arresting officers and he said that Eugene was an extremely nice guy. ... He didn't try to use who he was or anything like that," said Miami police spokesman Delrish Moss.

Robinson, nicknamed "The Prophet" because of his deep religious beliefs, said he apologized to his family, his teammates and the entire organization for causing such a shocking distraction the night before the Falcons appeared in the NFL title game for the first time in their 33-year history.

Robinson broke up the first pass of the game but was later burned on the game's biggest play -- an 80-yard TD pass to Rod Smith. In the third quarter, Robinson broke his left pinkie trying to tackle Terrell Davis, limiting his effectiveness the rest of the game.

"I know a lot of people are saying that I'm just another hypocritical Christian," Robinson said. "I deserve that."

Falcons coach Dan Reeves allowed Robinson to start the game, even though the player didn't sleep at all the night before the game.

"My major concern was whether he was going to be ready to play, and he said he was. I thought he did a good job," Reeves said.

 

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