Former basketball and football athlete Reggie Rogers was recently sentenced to a year in jail following his sixth DUI conviction. The 45-year-old Rogers was reportedly arrested for drunk driving last November in Tacoma.

Rogers had been a defensive lineman and college basketball player for the Washington Huskies. According to sources, he won the Morris Trophy as the Pac-10's top defensive lineman, and was drafted first round by the Detroit Lions in 1987. But times aren't so great for Rogers, who is currently serving out a sentence from previous DUI conviction from 2009. According to his attorney, he has been on work release for the past several months, and his sentence is set to be complete shortly before January.

Rogers' career was destroyed back in 1988 when he failed to stop at a red light while driving under the influence in Pontiac, Michigan and crashed into another vehicle, killing its three passengers. Following that incident he was convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to a year in prison.

Rogers is scheduled to report to begin serving his sentence on January 3, but Rogers also has a hearing on November 16 to consider evidence from Roger's attorney that more jail time may exacerbate a back injury for which Rogers recently received spinal surgery. Rogers' attorney plans to ask the court to allow his client to serve his sentence on home confinement rather than jail time.

Individuals with multiple DUI offenses don't always realize the weight of DUI penalties. Penalties for DUI, as one would expect, become increasingly harsh with each new conviction. Even a first DUI conviction can result in up to one year in prison.

Source: Seattle Times, "Reggie Rogers sentenced to 1 year for sixth DUI," Mike Carter, Sep 14, 2011.