The California Highway Patrol has reported that former Oakland Raiders lineman Khalif Barnes was taken into custody on April 17 after he allegedly failed a series of field sobriety tests in Alameda County. Barnes spent seven seasons in Oakland after signing with the Raiders in 2009. The offensive tackle is currently a free agent.
According to a CHP representative, officers initially pulled Barnes over in Castro Valley because of an expired registration, but they ordered the former NFL star to perform a number of field sobriety exercises after allegedly noticing signs of impairment. After being taken into custody, Barnes was transported to a detention facility in Dublin. He was released shortly after being processed. The incident took place near the Eden Canyon Road exit off Interstate 580 at approximately 4:00 p.m.
This is not the first time that Barnes has faced drunk driving charges. In 2006, the linesman paid fines, performed community service and served probation after pleading no contest to charges that he drove at speeds in excess of 100 mph while drunk. The case drew widespread media attention when a video emerged of Barnes accusing Florida police officers of racial profiling.
Experienced criminal defense attorneys will generally advise their clients to avoid getting into arguments with law enforcement officers and say nothing that could later be used in evidence against them. The majority of criminal cases are resolved by plea bargain agreements, and negotiating these arrangements is often a delicate and careful process. Defense attorneys may seek more lenient treatment for their clients by conveying their sincere regret and lauding their prior good conduct, but these efforts could be undone by inflammatory comments made in the heat of the moment.
Source: SFGate, Ex-Raiders player Khalif Barnes arrested for allegedly driving drunk, Kimberly Veklerov, April 19, 2016