Former Lion Charles Rogers gets 9 months in Sobriety Court

Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News

Novi -- Former Detroit Lion Charles Rogers was placed today into a Sobriety Court program after he violated the terms of his bond by drinking alcohol.

Rogers, who pleaded guilty last month to operating while visibly impaired by alcohol, appeared before Novi 52nd District Court Robert Bondy after he tested positive three times this week for alcohol and failed to appear once for additional testing.

His sentencing had been set for Nov. 10.

Sobriety Court is nine months of intensive probation in which defendants must submit to daily or weekly drug and alcohol testing and must undergo group and individual counseling.

On Sept. 16, the former Michigan State star receiver was found by the Novi Fire Department slumped over the wheel of his car while the engine was running. Rogers, 28, failed several sobriety tests and was arrested for operating while impaired and driving without a valid license.

Rogers, who is from Saginaw, was the second pick overall in the 2003 NFL draft. His NFL career has been sidelined by injuries and substance abuse problems.

Novi Judge Brian MacKenzie took Rogers's plea under advisement on Sept. 22 and ordered Rogers to undergo substance abuse testing twice a day and random drug and alcohol testing by the court.

In another case before MacKenzie in March, Rogers was eventually sentenced to jail in a domestic assault involving his girlfriend. In that case, MacKenzie initially sent Rogers to Sobriety Court instead of jail. Rogers was caught falsifying documents stating that he attended Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, one of several Sobriety Court conditions. He also tested positive for use of alcohol, a violation of the program.

Rogers was suspended by the Lions for substance abuse in 2005 and released the next year. The team says he must repay two-thirds of a $9.1 million bonus. An NFL arbitrator agreed last year, but Rogers apparently has not paid, and the Lions sued him earlier this month.

jchambers@detnews.com (734) 462-2289