ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - University of Michigan football player and co-captain Mazi Smith entered a plea deal in a Washtenaw County court on Thursday, pleading guilty to a misdemeanor while his felony weapons charge was dropped.
Smith appeared in 15th District Court in Ann Arbor where he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempted possession of a loaded firearm in or upon a motor vehicle. In exchange, one felony count of having a concealed weapon was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
It remains unclear if Smith will have to give up his gun, a Glock 19, that was discovered by officers in his Dodge Ram during a traffic stop on Oct. 7.
Court documents revealed an Ann Arbor police officer pulled Smith over around 9:34 a.m. two months ago for driving more than 50 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone in a neighborhood near King George Boulevard and Lockridge Drive.
As the police officer approached the truck to speak with Smith, the officer observed him moving a Glock 19 handgun behind his seat, court records via MLive detailed. Smith immediately confirmed his name with the officer and told him that he owned the gun.
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Smith then exited the vehicle at the officer's request without incident when the officer found the 30-round magazine and a 15-round magazine in Smith’s pockets, records show, in addition to the gun and the 24-round magazine.
Smith told the officer that he had moved the weapon to the backseat to "get it off his person." As outlined by court documents, the officer the found out that Smith did not have a concealed pistol license.
The gun was purchased legally, court documents showed, and was registered to Smith.
Smith’s attorney, John Shea, said the football player had applied for and was waiting on his concealed carry permit at the time of the traffic stop.
The football player was arrested, but later released on the same day with a pending felony weapons charge with the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office. Smith was charged nearly two months later on Nov. 30.
In statements released Dec. 1, Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh and Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel acknowledged the charges and said that Smith "will continue to participate as a member of the team" as the judicial process plays out.
Smith had played in 12 games for No. 2 Michigan, including its win over Indiana the day after the alleged incident occurred. A potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft, he also starred in the Wolverines' win over Ohio State.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 29 --- he faces up to a year in jail and or a $1,000 fine.