Jamin Davis set for jury trial for reckless driving appeal

Washington Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis, barring a new plea deal or resolution with prosecutors and the judge in his case, will take his appeal of a reckless driving conviction before a Loudoun County jury in March.

Davis appeared in court Thursday for the scheduling of the trial after the linebacker’s attorneys and prosecutors couldn’t reach a new agreement. Judge Douglas L. Fleming Jr. set the trial for March 4, 2024, at 9 a.m. — meaning the linebacker won’t be in jeopardy of missing games this season because of his legal trouble. 

Davis is appealing an original conviction that sentenced him to 30 days behind bars for driving 114 mph in a 45-mph hour zone. The linebacker was cited with a reckless driving misdemeanor charge in March 2022 and was found guilty last September. 

Thursday marked Davis’ fourth appearance in court related to his appeal.

Earlier this month, Judge James E. Plowman Jr. refused to make a ruling on a plea bargain presented by Davis’ attorney because it failed to be “substantially and materially” different from a bargain that was previously rejected by a different judge. That deal called for Davis to serve up to eight days maximum of incarceration with at least a  four-day minimum, among other details. The original deal called for an eight-day maximum, but no minimum. 

But Davis’ attorney, Mark Dycio, did not present a revised plea deal to the court Thursday and instead requested a jury trial. Dycio told reporters after that the Commonwealth only presented a new plea bargain an hour before the linebacker was to appear in court, adding that there wasn’t enough time to review the offer. 

During the request for a trial, Dycio initially told the court that Davis was seeking a trial sometime in February. As a clerk was checking the schedule, Jeffrey Mangeno — another of Davis’ attorneys — came up to remind Dycio to request a date specifically after Feb. 11.

The Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 11. 

Davis was originally cited for a Class 1 misdemeanor on March 28, 2022 related to reckless driving on Loudoun County Parkway at Evergreen Ridge Drive at 1 p.m. The misdemeanor can carry a sentence of up to 12 months in jail, and/or a fine of up to $2,500. 

Dycio said he anticipated the sides to continue to work toward a resolution before the trial date.