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A federal judge Tuesday formally accepted Darren Sharper's plea deal in a drug and rape case, making clear to the former NFL star that she could sentence him to 20 years in prison.


U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo had earlier rejected a deal that could have meant a nine-year sentence. Attorneys say federal sentencing guidelines call for a sentence in the range of roughly 15 or 16 to 20 years. Prosecutors said in court Tuesday that they may recommend a lighter sentence, based on Sharper's cooperation in related cases.


In addition to his federal guilty plea, Sharper has pleaded guilty or no-contest in state courts to charges that he drugged and sexually assaulted women in Arizona, California, and Louisiana.


Those charges involve nine victims, but Milazzo said in court earlier this month that there may be as many as 16.


Sharper has been sentenced to nine years in Arizona but still awaits formal sentencing in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and in state and federal courts in New Orleans.


Sharper, shackled and in orange prison garb, said little other than to answer basic, yes-or-no questions from Milazzo about whether he understood the implications of his plea deal. Asked if was entering the plea because he was, indeed, guilty, he replied, "Yes, ma'am."


There are two co-defendants in the Louisiana state and federal cases.


Still set for trial May 16: Brandon Licciardi, a former sheriff's deputy in the New Orleans suburb of St. Bernard Parish, and Erik Nunez.


Like Sharper, Licciardi and Nunez both face charges involving distribution of drugs with the intent to commit rape. Licciardi also is charged with witness tampering and Nunez is charged with damaging a cellphone that is considered evidence in the case.


Sharper was selected All-Pro six times and chosen for the Pro Bowl five times during a career that included stints with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. He played in two Super Bowls, one with the Packers as a rookie and one with New Orleans Saints when they won in 2010.


He ended a 14-year career in 2011. He was working as an NFL network analyst when women began telling police in several cities similar stories of blacking out while drinking with him and waking up groggy to find they had been sexually abused.

Crime, Law and Justice

The Associated Press

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A federal judge Tuesday formally accepted a plea deal from the ex-Minnesota Vikings player in a drug and rape case and made it clear that she could sentence him to 20 years in prison.

Judge accepts revamped plea deal in Darren Sharper rape case

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