Colts DT David Parry Avoids Jail Time

Colts DT David Parry, who was arrested in late February and charged with theft of a means of transportation and resisting arrest with physical force — both felonies — pleaded guilty to two lesser charges last week, per Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Holder writes that Parry pleaded guilty to attempted unlawful means of transportation, a low-level felony charge, and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, which will allow him to avoid jail time. Parry will be put on supervised probation at a sentencing hearing on May 31, but the length of the probation is currently unknown (presumably it will be at the judge’s discretion).

Parry was reportedly one of three passengers in a street-legal golf cart whose driver was ultimately the victim who contacted police. Per the victim, once the other two riders had been dropped off, Parry hit the driver in the head and stole the cart. Police later found the cart crashed into a gate, with Parry, apparently intoxicated, on the sidewalk.

The incident and subsequent court proceedings took place in Arizona, but the probation can be transferred to Indiana and as Holder writes, the guilty plea should have minimal effect on Parry’s ability to play in the NFL (though he could, of course, face a fine and suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy). However, Parry still faces a DUI charge as a result of the incident, which will be resolved in a different court.

Parry, 25, was selected by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. Over the first two years of his NFL career, Parry has started every game and racked up four sacks. Last year, Parry graded as just the No. 110 interior defender among 127 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Entering the third year of his rookie deal, Parry is set to make the minimum in 2017, with a cap charge of roughly $670K. And now that the club has added Johnathan Hankins, Margus Hunt, and fourth-round pick Grover Stewart, Parry could be on the outside looking in.

Colts GM Chris Ballard has suggested Parry’s place on the roster will be determined by his on-field performance, but his legal trouble certainly won’t help him.