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Michigan football star Mazi Smith sentenced to a year of probation for gun crime

Michigan football star Mazi Smith admitted to his mistakes in front of Ann Arbor's 15th District Court Judge Karen Quinlan Valvo on Thursday afternoon and said that he learned his lesson during his sentencing for a misdemeanor gun crime.

Valvo sentenced Smith to 12 months of probation, under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYAT).

The act gives young adults a chance at avoiding criminal charges if they successfully complete the conditions given to them.

Smith, pulled over in Ann Arbor for speeding on Oct. 7, was for carrying a concealed weapon without a license. Smith said he had the proper paperwork but it was not on file with the state at the time.

Michigan football star Mazi Smith and lawyer John Shea stand in front of Judge Karen Quinlan Valvo for his sentencing.
Michigan football star Mazi Smith and lawyer John Shea stand in front of Judge Karen Quinlan Valvo for his sentencing.

Smith was charged with a felony at the end of November, though he agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor charge of carrying a Glock 19 in an illegal way as part of a plea deal struck last month. If Smith would have received the felony charge, that could have resulted in five years in prison upon conviction.

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ESPN reported Tuesday that the defensive tackle who played high school football at East Kentwood would enter the 2023 NFL draft.

The arrest came the morning the Wolverines traveled to Bloomington, Indiana, for a game against the Hoosiers. Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit told the Free Press that the felony charge came seven weeks later because more investigation was needed. Because Smith was not

Smith's head coach, Jim Harbaugh, U-M athletic director Warde Manuel and university president Santa Ono agreed that a suspension from the team was not necessary for Smith, a senior co-captain. Instead, he started all 14 games this past season and had 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack. He was named a first-team All-Big Ten defensive lineman.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football's Mazi Smith sentenced to 12 months probation