Alfonzo Dennard: New England Patriots Cornerback Convicted Of Assaulting Cop

New England Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard is guilty of assaulting a cop and resisting arrest for an incident that took place outside a Lincoln, Nebraska, bar back in April.

Dennard was found guilty of the charges on Wednesday, but a Lancaster County Court also found him not guilty of assaulting a Lincoln man. He faces up to five years in jail and a $10,000 when it comes time for sentencing on April 11.

But Alfonzo Dennard is unlikely to see jail time, ESPN noted. After the verdict was read, prosecutors said they were not recommending a sentence for the cornerback. The typical sentence for a crime like assaulting an officer ranges from probation with no jail time to 180 days in jail, the report said.

Dennard was arrested on April 21 outside a Lincoln bar, accused of punching a cop during a fight. It seemed to be terrible timing for Dennard, taking place just days before the 2012 NFL Draft. Though he was the 2011 Big Ten defensive back of the year, he fell all the way to the seventh round.

But Dennard played better than expected this season, and in the final part of the year earned a starting spot on New England’s secondary. His solid cover skills and ability to match up one-on-one were an asset to the Patriots, and Alfonzo Dennard is projected to be an opening day started in 2013, ESPN Boston reported.

It took Alfonzo Dennard a long time to reach his verdict. The trial was delayed twice, in part to allow Dennard to play his rookie season. The trial eventually began on February 11.