Former NFL Player Keith Wright Sentenced To 234 Years Behind Bars

Sacramento, CA — Former NFL defensive tackle Keith Jerome Wright received what amounted to more than two lifetimes in prison for three home invasion crimes from a California Superior Court judge.

Wright, who did not see much playing time in professional football, was a sixth round draft choice out of the University of Missouri by the Houston Texans and was later with the Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, and Detroit Lions

A jury convicted Wright of the three residential robberies on October 22. The Sacramento Bee provides details on Wright’s sentencing for those crimes on Friday:

“[Wright was] sentenced to 114 years to life in prison, plus another 120 years and eight months, on 19 felonies that stemmed from three home invasion robberies in the Natomas area [of Sacramento], including one in which Wright sexually assaulted a woman.”

Sentencing judge Michael Savage (not to be confused with the talk show host) suggested that because of his football prowess, Wright apparently was coddled by authorities despite several run-ins with the law as a teenager.

“I have the distinct impression that your ability to sack quarterbacks worked much like a get-out-of-jail-free card. That may have given you the wrong impression about whether or not you are required to follow the rules of this society.”

At the sentencing hearing, Wright insisted that he didn’t get a fair trial and that his conviction was “a miscarriage of justice.”

Wright reportedly signed a $925,000 three-year deal with the Texans through 2005. If any of that money still exists, Wright will be required to make restitution to the victims as well as reimburse the county for the costs of prosecuting him for his 19 felonies.

[Image credit: eschipul]