Hawks’ Blades Pleads No Contest Despite Belief He Could Beat Charges
Brian Blades and his attorneys were confident he could beat manslaughter charges in the shooting death of his cousin Charles Blades. But the Seattle Seahawks star receiver couldn’t persuade himself that an acquittal would heal the emotional wounds caused by the loss of a relative he considered his best friend.
In a stunning reversal, the 30-year-old Blades pleaded no contest Tuesday to the charge of manslaughter with a firearm.
In a statement read at the hearing, Blades said: “The decision I made was probably the most difficult decision of my life. I made my decision knowing that many people, including my lawyers, advised me that a jury would likely find me innocent of any wrongdoing.
“However, my winning a trial is not really a victory. I want to be able to prevent any more suffering to Charles’ family, my family, my teammates, my friends and our children.”
“Nothing can bring Charles back. However, I can try to repair the damage of this tragedy. Hopefully, my no contest plea will speed that recovery.”
According to the arrest warrant, the shooting occurred in Plantation, Fla., on July 5 when Brian Blades intervened in an argument between his brother Bennie and his ex-girlfriend.
Bennie Blades shoved his brother, who left after threatening to return with a weapon. Brian Blades went to his nearby house and pulled out a .38-caliber handgun. Charles Blades, 34, tried to stop him, and during the struggle police believe he was shot.
Blades will appear May 28 at a sentencing hearing. Prosecutors said there was no deal, no negotiations or any promise of no jail time.
State sentencing guidelines call for a sentence of five to 10 years in prison. First-time offenders with no prior felony convictions often are sentenced to seven years in prison.
Blades could be sentenced to much less than that, including probation. State law says probation is acceptable if paying restitution to the victim’s family is more important than prison time for the defendant.