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The Beat with Aaron Wilson - Ravens O-Line Coach Moeller get probation

Pleads guilty to DWI
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Ravens O-Line Coach Moeller get probation

Baltimore Ravens offensive line coach Andy Moeller pleaded guilty today to a lesser charge of driving while intoxicated and avoided jail time, but is expected to be disciplined by the NFL under its personal conduct policy and serve a short suspension.

Moeller was sentenced to two years of supervised probation in Towson by a Baltimore County District judge, and all six other traffic offenses were dropped by the prosecution in exchange for his guilty plea.

A 60-day jail sentence was suspended with the exception of two days Moeller served last fall at a lockdown treatment facility, which was accepted as time served by the court.

There will be no travel restrictions related to the probation that will interfere with Moeller's job, and his driver's license wasn't suspended or restricted. Letters from Ravens coach John Harbaugh and a doctor at an alcohol treatment facility were submitted to the court in support of Moeller.

"I'm very pleased with the outcome," Alperstein told Ravens24x7.com in a telephone interview. "Andy is taking this very seriously and has been very conscientious about rehabilitation and will continue to be. In my personal experience, I've never had a client be as diligent as Andy about the process and how he's handling it.

"Andy apologized to the judge and accepted full responsibility for his poor judgment. He has learned from his mistakes. He clearly feels bad about what has happened and is committed to his rehabilitation."

The Ravens assistant has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous twice per week and submitting to urinalysis and hasn't failed any tests, according to Alperstein.

In this case, Moeller was pulled over near Greenspring Ave. on Sept. 18 last year by a state trooper while drving 70 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. The arresting officer detected a strong odor of alcohol and noticed him stumble during a field sobriety test with Moeller refusing to take a Breathalyzer exam.

This was Moeller's third alcohol-related arrest, including an acquittal of driving while under the influence and negligent driving last May 14 in Carroll County where it was determine that he wasn't driving the car and was parked, in the past four years. He was assigned to probation for driving while visibly impaired in Ann Arbor, Mich, in a December 2007 case.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti made it clear after the season that Moeller's employment will be terminated if there are any other alcohol-related incidents.

"We're very concerned," Bisciotti said ."All we can do at this stage is see how Andy responds to this. He's taking the right steps. Obviously, it's a very personal issue. I don't think there's anybody in this room who hasn't been affected by alcohol. That's not a character trait, that's a disease. That's a problem. As long as he is doing what he is expected to do, then he has our support, the caveat being that it's his last chance, and he knows that.

"I don't think he would mind me saying that. He's either going to get it under control, or he's going to spend a lifetime in misery like other people that are affected by that. So, we're behind him as long as he earns that trust and continues to earn that trust. But he knows he's one step away from not being a Raven, and then probably not being in the NFL at all."

Alperstein said that Moeller has passed 23 random alcohol tests, has attended 52 self-help meetings and met with a psychologist and a psychiatrist once weekly during the season and twice weekly since the end of the season.

"Andy has been doing very well for a long time now," Alperstein said. "He's committed to remaining on the right path and doing the right things. Now, he'll wait to hear from the league."

 

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