<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Former Orioles pitcher to serve five days in jail</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" width="1" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Former Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson was sentenced to five days in jail Monday after being convicted of driving while impaired.
District Judge James Mann ordered Ponson to report to jail Tuesday, and he fined Ponson $500, plus court costs and fees totaling less than $60.
Mann noted Ponson had two previous drunken driving charges, one in 1996 in Maryland and one in January in Florida.
<TABLE cellPadding=1 align=left border=0 vspace="5" hspace="10"><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("<scr" + "ipt type=text/javascript src=""http://us.js2.yimg.com/us.js.yimg.com/lib/bc/bc_1.7.2.js></scr" + "ipt>");</SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a){yzq_a('p', 'P=.vsQgs6.I.a.ibs6Q5mXKx.QRCJLaUOdt.cADl3b&T=13r9e5tqu%2fX%3d1134409704%2fE%3d95861673%2fR%3dsports%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d1362902400%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dD623BECE');yzq_a('a', '&U=139u00ger%2fN%3dVWUwfdhtfYM-%2fC%3d332123.7358940.8275231.1806201%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d3061373');}</SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT>
</NOSCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>"In light of this, the court cannot conclude anything but that some jail time is needed," Mann said.
Ponson, 29, did not address the court except to tell Mann that he understood the proceedings and he left the courthouse without comment.
"Sidney deeply regrets any embarrassment to Peter Angelos, Mike Flanagan and the Orioles organization," Barry Praver, Ponson's agent and attorney, said after the hearing.
Maryland Transportation Authority Police arrested Ponson on Aug. 25 on Interstate 95 in Baltimore. Authorities said Ponson was stopped for tailgating. He was charged with driving under the influence and driving while impaired.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors, he entered a not-guilty plea Monday. After a statement describing the incident was read in court, Mann convicted Ponson of driving while impaired. The state declined to prosecute him on the second charge.
"It's my earnest hope that Mr. Ponson has gotten the message," Mann said. Ponson spent 11 days in jail in his native Aruba stemming from a fight on a beach last Christmas Day. The Orioles released him Sept. 2 for conduct violating terms of his contract.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Former Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson was sentenced to five days in jail Monday after being convicted of driving while impaired.
District Judge James Mann ordered Ponson to report to jail Tuesday, and he fined Ponson $500, plus court costs and fees totaling less than $60.
Mann noted Ponson had two previous drunken driving charges, one in 1996 in Maryland and one in January in Florida.
<TABLE cellPadding=1 align=left border=0 vspace="5" hspace="10"><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("<scr" + "ipt type=text/javascript src=""http://us.js2.yimg.com/us.js.yimg.com/lib/bc/bc_1.7.2.js></scr" + "ipt>");</SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a){yzq_a('p', 'P=.vsQgs6.I.a.ibs6Q5mXKx.QRCJLaUOdt.cADl3b&T=13r9e5tqu%2fX%3d1134409704%2fE%3d95861673%2fR%3dsports%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d1362902400%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dD623BECE');yzq_a('a', '&U=139u00ger%2fN%3dVWUwfdhtfYM-%2fC%3d332123.7358940.8275231.1806201%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d3061373');}</SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT>
Ponson, 29, did not address the court except to tell Mann that he understood the proceedings and he left the courthouse without comment.
"Sidney deeply regrets any embarrassment to Peter Angelos, Mike Flanagan and the Orioles organization," Barry Praver, Ponson's agent and attorney, said after the hearing.
Maryland Transportation Authority Police arrested Ponson on Aug. 25 on Interstate 95 in Baltimore. Authorities said Ponson was stopped for tailgating. He was charged with driving under the influence and driving while impaired.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors, he entered a not-guilty plea Monday. After a statement describing the incident was read in court, Mann convicted Ponson of driving while impaired. The state declined to prosecute him on the second charge.
"It's my earnest hope that Mr. Ponson has gotten the message," Mann said. Ponson spent 11 days in jail in his native Aruba stemming from a fight on a beach last Christmas Day. The Orioles released him Sept. 2 for conduct violating terms of his contract.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
