Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is set to spend five days in jail after pleading guilty in a Hamilton County courtroom on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old faced charges of reckless driving and driving without a license, confirmed a court bailiff. He was cited for street racing on September 19, according to police records. Despite this, he was allowed to continue playing for the Bengals while awaiting his court appearance.
During the hearing, Judge Bernie Bouchard denied Taylor-Britt’s request to complete community service instead of jail time. The charge of reckless driving carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $250 fine. However, Judge Bouchard emphasized that Taylor-Britt must serve his sentence immediately. “It’s a gift,” the judge remarked in court. “It’s five days, not 30. He has to do it now. It’ll be over soon.”
After pleading guilty, Taylor-Britt was taken into custody at 11:23 a.m. and is expected to be released on January 11.
This isn’t the first time he has faced legal trouble. He received a ticket for reckless driving in the Race Street area on June 18, just three months prior to the street racing incident.
As he recovers from a Lisfranc injury requiring surgery, Taylor-Britt arrived at court on crutches. He took the opportunity to apologize, mentioning that he never intended to cause harm. Over four seasons with the Bengals, he recorded 203 tackles, two forced fumbles, seven interceptions, and 38 passes defensed.
With his rookie contract set to expire this offseason, there are questions about his future on the team. He expressed a desire to continue with the Bengals, but his health issues this season have led the team to rely on other cornerbacks.
