Nebraska Football: Keith Williams Pleads No Contest; Gets 30 Days Jail
Nebraska football wide receivers coach Keith Williams has had his day in court and punishment has been handed down from a Lancaster County judge.
Williams pleaded no contest to his third DUI offense Wednesday afternoon and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, three years probation and a $1,000 fine.
The Nebraska football coach does have the option of serving the jail time under house arrest. The attending prosecutors requested that not be an available request considering he didn’t serve jail time after two previous convictions in California.
Williams’ driver’s license has been revoked for a five-year period and he will only be able to drive with an ignition interlock.
According to the Lincoln Journal Star, Williams does have plenty of time to request a house arrest sentence:
"…Lancaster County Judge Thomas Zimmerman gave Williams time to apply for house arrest before he reports for jail March 3."
Williams had previously been suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season following the initial DUI charge.
Per Riley Johnson of the Lincoln Journal Star, Williams could start his house arrest sentence soon.
Keith could start his house arrest term within a week, his attorney John Ball said after the hearing.
— Riley Johnson (@Rileyjwrites) February 22, 2017
Nebraska head football coach Mike Riley’s comments on Williams following the incident in August 2016 were optimistic:
"“I have a lot of faith in Keith,” Riley said. “Keith is the same guy I hired a year ago — he might be a better guy. He made a terrible mistake. And we have decided to support him and give him an opportunity to work with our kids.”"
A third DUI charge in Nebraska is considered a misdemeanor in Nebraska and is punishable by 90 days to one year in jail.