Bengals' Maualuga pleads guilty in DUI case

COVINGTON, Ky. — Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga pleaded guilty to drunken driving Tuesday morning, Feb. 2, in Kenton District Court, four days after he was arrested in Covington.

Police arrested Maualuga early Friday on charges of drunken driving and careless driving after he struck two parked cars and a parking meter.

Though he was not scheduled to appear in court until Feb. 25, Maualuga’s attorney, W. Robert Lotz, requested that his plea be added to the docket Tuesday morning.

District Judge Ken Easterling sentenced Maualuga to seven days in jail, discharged on the condition that he have no more offenses for two years and that he pay for any damage not covered by insurance, said Kenton County Chief Prosecutor Charles Vaughn.

In a statement released through his agents, Maualuga apologized “for letting everyone down and making a terrible decision to drive under the influence. I wanted to acknowledge fault quickly and accept the consequences for my actions, which are the same that anyone else facing these charges would receive.”

Maualuga also will have to pay $859 in fines and fees, and his license will be suspended for 90 days. Easterling seized his license at the hearing.