Darren Sharper
Safety | |||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
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Born: | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | November 3, 1975||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Hermitage (Henrico, Virginia) | ||||||||||
College: | William & Mary | ||||||||||
NFL draft: | 1997 / Round: 2 / Pick: 60 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Darren Mallory Sharper (born November 3, 1975) is an American convicted
He played
Following Sharper's 2010 retirement, allegations surfaced that he drugged and raped several women across various states, leading to him being charged in 2014. Sharper pled guilty to the rape and drug-related charges and was sentenced in 2016 to 20 years in prison. As a result of his guilty plea, he was removed from the College of William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame. Debate has loomed over whether his Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibility should be disqualified; Sharper ended up being nominated, with officials saying they were not allowed to disallow nominations because of off-the-field actions.[1]
Early years
Sharper has an older sister, Monica, and an older brother, Jamie.[2] The Sharpers attended Hermitage High School in Henrico County, Virginia. Jamie played for the high school football team as a linebacker. Darren played for the varsity football and basketball teams. He was named to the honor roll, had perfect attendance in three of his four years, and was active in the foreign language club and student council. Hermitage honored Sharper with a display on their "Wall of Fame".[3] Sharper graduated from Hermitage in 1993.[4] Following the rape allegations being substantiated, Hermitage removed all Sharper memorabilia from its school grounds.[5]
College career
Sharper attended the College of William and Mary, where he played for the
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle |
Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 1+3⁄4 in (1.87 m) |
206 lb (93 kg) |
31+7⁄8 in (0.81 m) |
9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) |
4.64 s | 1.61 s | 2.73 s | 4.24 s | 6.97 s | 39.0 in (0.99 m) |
10 ft 1 in (3.07 m) |
16 reps | |
All values from NFL Combine[8] |
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers selected Sharper in the second round (60th overall) of the 1997 NFL draft.[9] Sharper was the fifth safety drafted in 1997 and his brother, Jamie Sharper, was also selected in the second round (34th overall).[10]
1997
During training camp, Sharper competed to be the starting free safety against veteran Eugene Robinson. Head coach Mike Holmgren officially named Sharper the backup free safety, behind Eugene Robinson, to begin the regular season.[11]
He made his professional regular season debut in the
The Green Bay Packers finished first in the NFC Central with a 13–3 record and earned a first round bye. On January 4, 1998, Sharper played in his first career playoff game and recorded three combined tackles in the Packers' 21–7 victory against the
1998
Sharper entered training camp slated as the starting free safety in 1998.
1999
On January 8, 1999, it was announced that head coach
2000
On January 2, 2000, the Green Bay Packers fired head coach
2001
On February 21, 2001, the Green Bay Packers signed Sharper to a six-year, $30 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $7 million.[31]
Head coach Mike Sherman retained Sharper and LeRoy Butler as the starting safety duo in 2001.
The
2002
Head coach Mike Sherman named Sharper the starting free safety to begin the regular season, alongside strong safety
2003
Sharper returned as the starting free safety in his fourth year under defensive coordinator
The
2004
On January 16, 2004, head coach Mike Sherman announced the dismissal of defensive coordinator Ed Donatell after the Packers' defense ranked 17th in 2003 and allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to convert on fourth and 26th in the NFC Divisional Round.[43] Sherman elected to promote defensive backs coach Bob Slowik to defensive coordinator. Sharper was retained as the starting free safety in 2003, but was paired with strong safety Mark Roman.[44]
On September 26, 2004, Sharper collected a season-high nine combined tackles in a 45–31 loss at the
2005
On January 24, 2005, the Green Bay Packers replaced defensive coordinator Bob Slowik with Jim Bates.[49] On March 10, 2005, the Green Bay Packers released Sharper after he declined to take a pay cut. The Packers avoided paying him a $2.60 million roster bonus and cleared $3.40 million in salary cap space by releasing him.[50] He finished his eight-year career in Green Bay ranked fifth with 36 interceptions. He also recorded 616 combined tackles, six sacks, 677 interception return yards, and 7 defensive touchdowns.[51]
Minnesota Vikings
On March 12, 2005, the Minnesota Vikings signed Sharper to a four-year, $10.60 million contract that includes a signing bonus $4 million.[52][53]
Sharper entered training camp slated as the starting free safety. Head coach Mike Tice officially named Sharper the starter to begin the regular season, along with strong safety Corey Chavous and cornerbacks Fred Smoot and Brian Williams.[54]
He started in the
2006
On January 2, 2006, the Minnesota Vikings fired head coach Mike Tice after they finished with a 9–7 record in 2005.[59] On January 6, 2006, the Minnesota Vikings announced the hiring of former Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator Brad Childress as their new head coach.[60] Defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin installed the Tampa 2 defense and chose to move Sharper to strong safety.[61] Head coach Brad Childress named Shaper the starting strong safety to begin the regular season, alongside free safety Tank Williams.[62] Dwight Smith replaced Williams to begin the regular season due to an injury.[63]
In Week 8, he collected a season-high seven solo tackles, deflected a pass, and made an interception during a 31–7 loss to the
2007
On February 8, 2007, the Minnesota Vikings hired
On September 16, 2007, Sharper collected a season-high eight solo tackles, deflected two passes, and made two interceptions during a 20–17 overtime loss at the
2008
Head coach Brad Childress named Sharper the starting strong safety to begin the 2008 season, alongside free safety
New Orleans Saints
2009
On March 18, 2009, the New Orleans Saints signed Sharper to a one-year, $1.20 million contract.[52][72] Throughout training camp, Sharper competed to be the starting free safety against Usama Young. Head coach Sean Payton named Sharper the starting free safety to begin regular season, alongside strong safety Roman Harper and cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter.[73]
He started in the
The New Orleans Saints finished first in the
2010
During the offseason, Shaper underwent micro-fracture arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. On March 5, 2010, Sharper became an unrestricted free agent and went on a visit with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[82] On May 3, 2010, the New Orleans Saints signed Sharper to a one-year, $2.25 million contract with a signing bonus of $75,000.[52][83] Throughout training camp, Sharper competed to retain his position as the starting free safety against Malcolm Jenkins who was converted from cornerback.[84]
On September 3, Sharper was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, causing him to miss the first six weeks of the 2010 NFL season. He was activated on October 24,[85] but he later missed another two games after a further injury. Sharper finished the 2010 season with 16 combined tackles (11 solo) and a pass deflection in eight games and one start.[20] He was selected as a second-team All Pro, despite having missed much of the season.
Free agency
After workouts with the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers without a contract offer, Sharper reportedly announced his retirement after a 14-year career. He finished with 63 career regular season interceptions, placing him sixth all time. He took 11 of them back for touchdowns, which ranks him tied for second with Charles Woodson and only behind Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, with 12.[86] Sharper's 13 career defensive touchdowns (11 interception returns, two fumble returns) is tied for first in NFL history with Woodson and Woodson.[87]
Hall of Fame consideration
On April 13, 2015, Sharper was removed from the William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame.[88]
In 2016, he became eligible for induction into the
Post-playing career
In August 2012, after retiring, Sharper worked briefly for WWL-TV as an analyst before leaving to take a position with NFL Network. On February 28, 2014, Sharper was officially fired from NFL Network in connection with his arrest for aggravated rape.[92]
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
---|---|
Won the Super Bowl | |
NFL record | |
Led the league | |
Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |||
1997 | GB | 14 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 70 | 35.0 | 50 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 1 |
1998 | GB | 16 | 73 | 53 | 20 | 0.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1999 | GB | 16 | 113 | 84 | 29 | 1.0 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
2000 | GB | 16 | 92 | 72 | 20 | 1.0 | 17 | 9 | 109 | 12.1 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2001 | GB | 16 | 94 | 70 | 24 | 2.0 | 17 | 6 | 78 | 13.0 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 |
2002 | GB | 13 | 68 | 51 | 17 | 0.0 | 9 | 7 | 233 | 33.3 | 89 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2003 | GB | 15 | 82 | 69 | 13 | 2.0 | 13 | 5 | 78 | 15.3 | 50 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2004 | GB | 15 | 70 | 57 | 13 | 0.0 | 7 | 4 | 97 | 24.2 | 43 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 1 |
2005 | MIN | 14 | 51 | 41 | 10 | 0.0 | 16 | 9 | 276 | 30.7 | 92 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
2006 | MIN | 16 | 68 | 52 | 16 | 1.0 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2007 | MIN | 16 | 63 | 49 | 14 | 0.0 | 8 | 4 | 61 | 15.2 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2008 | MIN | 16 | 69 | 60 | 9 | 0.0 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 0 |
2009 | NO | 14 | 71 | 51 | 20 | 0.5 | 15 | 9 | 376 | 41.8 | 99 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2010 | NO | 8 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
Career[93] | 205 | 943 | 731 | 212 | 7.5 | 134 | 63 | 1,412 | 22.4 | 99 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 120 | 2 |
Convictions of rape and drug distribution
Allegations
- On March 18, 2011, two women filed a criminal complaint against Sharper with the Miami Beach Police Department alleging they were possibly sexually assaulted after passing out at Sharper's condo on his couch and waking up to find their underwear missing.[94][95][96] The women were in Miami for spring break and were students from the University of Georgia. On March 17, 2011, the women had been brought to Sharper's condo by a mutual friend, nightclub promoter Wascar Payano, and had passed out on Sharper's couch. One of the women claimed she woke up to a man attempting to place his penis in her mouth, but pushed the man away. She alleged when she woke up again a man was lifting her dress. She immediately woke up her friend and told Payano about the incident. Both women discovered their underwear was missing and were taken to the hospital by Payano where they underwent rape examination. On March 23, 2011, Miami Beach Police Department closed the investigation five days after the incident. The Miami Beach Police Department's records show no evidence the detective in charge of the case sent the rape kits for a detailed examination, had spoken to Darren Sharper, or had visited Sharper's condo where the alleged assault had taken place.[95]
- On February 2, 2013, Sharper allegedly helped drug a woman who was working as a model at a pre-Super Bowl party in New Orleans and was consequently raped by Sharper's friend Brandon Licciardi.[97][95]
- On August 31, 2013, Sharper allegedly raped a woman in New Orleans.[98][99]
- On September 23, 2013, Sharper allegedly drugged two women in New Orleans and raped them with his accomplice, Erik Nunez. One of the victims filed a report with the New Orleans Police Department.[97][95] Sharper and his friend, Erik Nunez, raped the women.[100][101][95]
- On October 30, 2013, Sharper allegedly drugged two women and raped one of the women in Los Angeles after meeting them in a West Hollywood night club and bringing them back to his hotel room.[102][103][95] On November 7, 2013, the victim filed a police report with the Los Angeles Police Department.[95]
- On November 20, 2013, Sharper allegedly met three female Arizona State University students in Tempe, Arizona, and raped two of them after drugging them.[104][95][105] Both women immediately underwent assault examinations within 12 hours of the assault and filed a police report with the Tempe Police Department.[95]
- On January 14, 2014, Sharper allegedly met two women in West Hollywood night clubs and proceeded to take them to his hotel room, drug them, and raped one of them. Both victims reported the incident to the Los Angeles Police Department and underwent rape examinations.[95][102][103]
- On January 15, 2014, Sharper allegedly met two women and a man in a nightclub in Las Vegas and drugged all three. He proceeded to take the women to his hotel room and sexually assaulted them both.[106][107][95]
Prosecutions
California state
On January 17, 2014, Sharper was arrested in Los Angeles on two separate counts of sexual assault.[102][103] The alleged incidents were said to have happened in October 2013 and January 2014.[103]
On February 14, 2014, Sharper was officially charged with two counts of rape, by use of drugs, and five related felony counts. Sharper was released on $200,000 bond, which at the request of the prosecution was raised to $1,000,000.[108] Sharper pleaded not guilty to the charges. Conditions of his bail required him not to frequent any drinking establishment, as well as not to be alone with any women he had no relationship with prior to October 13, 2013, the date of his first alleged rape under these charges.[109][108] Sharper faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted of all counts.[109]
Louisiana state and federal
In January 2014, USA Today reported the New Orleans Police Department was investigating a sexual assault allegation against Sharper which was filed on September 24, 2013.[103]
Officials in
On December 12, 2014, an Orleans Parish grand jury indicted Sharper on two counts of aggravated rape, stating that, if convicted, he will face a mandatory life sentence.[111] On the same day, a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana returned an indictment for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (1 count) and distribution of a controlled substance (2 counts).[112]
Arizona state
On March 12, 2014, Sharper was charged with sexual assault in Arizona.[104] Under Arizona state law, a person commits sexual assault by knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with another person without that person's consent.[113] No consent was given if the victim was incapable of consenting by reason of drugs, alcohol, sleep, or a similar impairment, and such impairment was known or should have been known to the defendant.[114]
Nevada state
On March 20, 2015, Sharper was charged with two sexual assaults in Las Vegas.[115] The purported crimes took place in January 2014 and involved two women.[106][107] Nevada state legislation provides that a person subjecting another person to sexual penetration against that person's will, or under conditions in which the perpetrator knows or should know that the victim is mentally or physically incapable of resisting or understanding the nature of the perpetrator's conduct, is guilty of sexual assault. The notion of sexual penetration includes sexual intercourse in its ordinary meaning.[116]
Guilty pleas and sentencing
California and Arizona
Later on March 20, Sharper's lawyer said that Sharper had reached a
On November 29, 2016, Sharper was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor. Sharper's plea deal allows serving half that time, minus time already served. As a non-violent criminal, Sharper might also be eligible for parole since raping an intoxicated person is a non-violent crime in the state of California.[120][121]
Nevada
On March 24, 2015, Sharper pleaded guilty to a single count of attempted sexual assault on two women in Las Vegas. He agreed to serve three to eight years for this crime.[122] He was formally sentenced on October 27, 2016.[123]
Louisiana and federal
On May 29, 2015, Sharper pleaded guilty, in federal court, to conspiracy to distribute
On August 18, 2016, Sharper was sentenced to 220 months (18 years and 4 months) of incarceration, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $20,000 fine.[127] The following week, he was sentenced by a Louisiana State judge to 20 years in prison, stemming from three counts of rape.[128]
All imprisonments will run concurrently. Time served will count towards every charge in every state as if running all at the same time.[128] Once out of prison, Sharper must register as a sex offender and comply with a "sex treatment condition", as part of the 3-year supervision program.[129] Court records list the total of 9 victims involved, nationwide. But, according to the judge, there may be as many as 16.[129]
Incarceration
Sharper is imprisoned in FCI Miami with BOP# 34209-034. He is scheduled to be released in late 2028.
Co-defendants
Two accomplices — Brandon Licciardi of Meraux, Louisiana and Erik Nunez of New Orleans — pleaded guilty in connection with the alleged drug-and-rape plot.[130] Licciardi is a former sheriff's deputy in the New Orleans suburb of St. Bernard Parish.[130] He had been on the force since 2002, but resigned after charges were filed.[101]
On February 27, 2014, Nunez was arrested and charged, in state court, with two counts of aggravated rape purportedly taking place September 23, 2013, at Sharper's residence in New Orleans. Additionally, he was charged with obstruction of justice between September 23, 2013, and February 28, 2014.[100][101]
On December 12, 2014, Licciardi was indicted by a federal grand jury on six criminal counts including tampering with a witness (2 counts), impeding an investigation, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and distribution of a controlled substance (2 counts).[112]
On February 6, 2015, Licciardi pleaded innocent to state charges against him, including aggravated rape on February 2, 2013, and three counts of human trafficking to facilitate sexual conduct. Additionally, he was charged with battery using a dangerous weapon.[101]
On July 24, 2015, Nunez was federally charged with conspiracy to impede an investigation.[131] On July 11, 2016, in exchange for a 10-year sentence, he pleaded guilty, before judge Triche-Milazzo, to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances without victim's knowledge and with the intent to commit a sexual battery,[130] to which he entered two separate guilty pleas in a state court of Louisiana.[132][123] Under Louisiana state law, sexual battery includes touching of the victim's private body parts while the victim is incapable of understanding the nature of the act, and this inability is, or should have been, known to the defendant.[133]
On July 15, 2016, Licciardi pleaded guilty, before the same judge, to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with the intent to commit crimes of violence, including rape.[130] In state court, he pleaded guilty to three counts of human trafficking and one count of forcible rape.[132] He agreed to a 17-year prison sentence.[130]
On October 20, 2016, both men were formally sentenced by the federal court.[132] On October 27, they were sentenced on Louisiana state charges. Criminal District Judge Karen Herman ordered that each defendant's prison term mirror and run concurrently with his federal sentence.[123]
Analysis
Since February 27, 2014 – Sharper's last day at liberty[110] – the lingering question was how he managed to hurt at least nine women[129] over many months and still avoid incarceration despite investigation being already underway.[95]
A criminal justice official speculated that the answer may lie in the perpetrator's high social and financial status affording him well-qualified lawyers prosecutors hesitated to confront. "If his name was John Brown, he would have been in jail", the official said. "If a woman says, 'He's the guy that raped me,' and you have corroborating evidence to show they were together and she went to the hospital and she can identify him, that guy goes to jail".[95]
Another official elaborated: "The
Over time, Sharper's actions became more and more sophisticated. He did not make self-incriminating statements. He traveled often. His criminal activity spanned four states, making it hard to detect. Prescription sedatives mixed with alcohol made the victims unconscious and unable to remember, undermining their credibility with the police.[95]
Further proceedings
In July 2019, Sharper filed a motion to undo his 2016 plea deal arguing that he was not adequately advised by his previous lawyers on the consequences of his guilty plea. However, the judge dismissed his motion citing that Sharper had twice admitted in open court that he understood the terms of his plea agreement.[134]
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