Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers will be placed in a 12-month diversion program after being caught with a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers will take a weapons course and do community service for having a loaded handgun at the airport.CLEVELAND -- Browns nosetackle Shaun Rogers will be placed into a 12-month diversion program Thursday during his arraignment in Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court for having a loaded handgun in his carry-on at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in April.
Rogers, 31, will be required to complete a 10-hour weapons course and complete 40 hours of community service. Upon completion, the charges will be dropped. He will also take it upon himself to talk to children in the Cleveland School District about getting to and staying in school.
"Shaun is appreciative of the consideration he received in this case,'' his attorney, Patrick D'Angelo, told The Plain Dealer. "He understands this is a serious matter, and he wanted to assure everyone that he did not act intentionally in this case.''
Rogers told airport security that he forgot he had the loaded .45 gun in his handbag. He was traveling with fellow defensive linemen Robaire Smith, who was also charged last month in Michigan for having a loaded handgun in his bag at the Flint airport in November.
"I'm hopeful and confident that Shaun will complete the program successfully and that this will be expunged from his record,'' said D'Angelo.
The Browns are still awaiting word on whether or not Rogers will be disciplined by the NFL under terms of its personal conduct policy. The league office, which did not immediately return an email, planned to let the legal process play out first.
Rogers was arrested April 1st before boarding a flight to Houston. He pleaded not guilty.