Sports

MN Vikings' Offensive Coordinator Pleads Guilty After DWI Arrest

Wes Phillips, 44, was charged in December, but prosecutors allowed him to plead guilty to a lesser charge.

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips has agreed to a plea deal concerning his drunk-driving arrest in early December.
Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips has agreed to a plea deal concerning his drunk-driving arrest in early December. (Hennepin County Jail)

EDEN PRARIE, MN — Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips has agreed to a plea deal concerning his drunk-driving arrest in early December.

Phillips, 44, was charged with a DWI. But prosecutors allowed him to instead plead guilty to a charge of misdemeanor careless driving.

Phillips must pay a $300 fine, a $78 surcharge, and perform eight hours of community service.

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On Friday, Dec. 8, Phillips was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 394 in Minneapolis at about 9:45 p.m., Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Jill Frankfurth told the Star Tribune.

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He appeared to be impaired and his blood-alcohol level measured at 0.10 percent, authorities said. The legal limit under state law is .08.

Phillips was booked into Hennepin County Jail on a misdemeanor DWI charge at 11 p.m. He posted a $300 bond and was released just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday, according to jail records.

"Wes immediately notified the team following his arrest last night," the Vikings said in a statement hours after the arrest.

"This morning we contacted the NFL, and after internal discussion, made the decision Wes will travel with the team to Las Vegas this afternoon. We will continue to gather information regarding the incident and have further comment at the appropriate time."

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