Michigan senior defensive tackle William Campbell pleaded guilty to a malicious destruction of property charge on Thursday morning in an Ann Arbor courthouse, but avoided a much harsher felony charge for vandalism in the process.
The 6-foot-5 Campbell will be ordered to pay only restitution for his crime, after fully acknowledging his role in an April 7 incident where he inadvertently used his 335-pound frame to cause damage to a car while intoxicated.
UM DL Will Campbell pleads guilty to misdemeanor malicious destruction of property in AA court, to pay restitution, felony charge dismissed
— Freep Wolverines (@freepwolverines) June 14, 2012
A felony charge for vandalism could have equated to a five-year jail stint and a $10,000 fine, though a first-time offender like Campbell likely would have been afforded some leniency. Still, though, Campbell definitely benefited from his squeaky-clean background to avoid the felony, and will need to work hard to prove this was an isolated incident to both his current coaches and prospective NFL scouts when the time comes.
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