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Vikings Simpson Pleads Guilty To DWI, Careless Driving

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson pleaded guilty Thursday to DWI and careless driving.

Simpson was officially charged on Nov. 13, after being arrested Nov. 9 while driving on Interstate 394. A third charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence was dropped.

Simpson was sentenced to 15 days in jail but avoided any jail time by opting for 120 hours of community service. He will also be on probation for one year.

Simpson will be required to visit Minneapolis Public Schools to talk to kids about the importance of staying in school and getting good grades as part of his community service.

According to the charges, a trooper was dispatched to a stalled vehicle that was blocking a lane on westbound I-394 out of downtown Minneapolis around 4:28 a.m. on Nov. 9.

The trooper located a Dodge Challenger with Kentucky license plates, which was stalled on the right shoulder of I-394 and 5th Street.

A man, later identified as 27-year-old Simpson, stepped out of the driver's seat and walked towards the trooper, claiming he thought his rear axle was broken.

The trooper said while talking with Simpson he noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from him and saw that he had bloodshot/watery eyes.

Simpson said he was at the Pour House downtown but denied having anything to drink.

He was then given the Horizontal Gaze test, which he failed. Simpson was then asked to perform the Walk and Turn test, which he also failed. Simpson performed a third and final test, the One Leg Stand test, and failed that, as well.

He was given a preliminary breath test, which registered a .095 BAC.

Simpson was then placed under arrest.

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