Aldon Smith Pleads Not Guilty to Misdemeanor DUI, Hit-and-Run, Vandalism Charges

Oakland Raiders pass-rusher Aldon Smith was arrested on Aug. 6 and subsequently charged with misdemeanor DUI, hit-and-run and vandalism on Sept. 11, but his Tuesday arraignment was waived after his attorney formally entered a not-guilty plea via a clerk's arraignment on Sept. 29, according to CSN Bay Area's Scott Bair.The Santa Clara Police Departmentoutlined the moments leading up to the arrest in a formal press release shortly after the incident:On arrival, officers learned Aldon Smith was parking his vehicle and collided with a parked vehicle. After the collision, Smith exited his vehicle and caused additional damage to the parked vehicle with his car door.Smith then left the area not reporting the collision or leaving his identifying information at the scene. He later returned to the parking area where he was contacted by officers. Smith displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. Officers administered a field sobriety test to Smith.Smith was released by the San Francisco 49ers following his fifth arrest in three years, but the Oakland RaiderssignedSmith on Sept. 11 despite the pending charges.The former first-team All-Pro has a history of legal problems centered around alcohol consumption, including separate arrests in 2012 and 2013 on suspicion of DUI. Smithchecked into rehab in 2013 and was later suspended for the first nine games of the 2014 season because of violations of the NFL's personal-conduct and substance-abuse policies.On Sept. 13, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported the league was reviewing Smith's latest run-in with the law under its substance-abuse policy:A separate question for Smith arises from the possibility that he was consuming alcohol in violation of his treatment plan under the substance-abuse program. If Smith is in Stage 3 of the program, any deviation from his treatment plan could subject him to a one-year suspension, even without a failed alcohol test.Smith has appeared in all four gamesincluding two startssince signing with the Raiders just days before the 2015 season started. He's registered 10 solo tackles and one sack while defending three passes during that span.According to Bair, Smith is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 4. The former first-round pick could also reportedly face jail time.
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