Brent released from jail

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Illinois defensive lineman Josh Brent was released from Champaign County Jail at around noon Tuesday, according to the Champaign County sheriff's office.

Brent, 21, whose last known local address was in the 1600 block of East Florida Avenue, Urbana, pleaded guilty June 2 to misdemeanor driving under the influence, admitting he was driving while drunk Feb. 21 in Urbana.

Assistant State's Attorney Chris Kanis said an Illinois State trooper who was southbound on Lincoln Avenue saw Brent pull out of an apartment complex and head south doing 45 mph in a 30 mph zone.

The trooper stopped Brent about 1:30 a.m. that day at University and Coler avenues in Urbana. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested after a breathalyzer recorded his blood-alcohol level at 0.11 percent. A motorist in Illinois is presumed intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent.

Kanis said Brent told the trooper he had consumed two drinks at a campus bar and didn't have his driver's license on him. His license was suspended at the time, Kanis said, and he was wanted on a warrant out of Livingston County for driving under suspension.

In an agreement worked out between Kanis and Brent's attorney, Tony Novak of Urbana, and endorsed by Judge Chase Leonhard, Brent was sentenced to two years' probation and 60 days in the county jail. He started the sentence June 2.

Brent also was ordered to perform 200 hours of public service, pay a $1,000 fine and attend a victim impact panel in which people who have lost loved ones or caused harm by driving drunk tell their stories to those convicted of DUI.

Brent, a defensive lineman who had 34 tackles last season, was expected to play a key role on Ron Zook's defense in the fall.

After the incident, Zook suspended Brent, a News-Gazette All-Stater from Bloomington Central Catholic, indefinitely.

Zook will determine Brent's status for the 2009 season when the legal system runs its course.

Categories (3):Illini Sports, Football, Sports

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