Former Yankees executive agrees to one year of probation for DUI
|
|
Former New York Yankees executive Steve Swindal pleaded no contest Thursday to driving under the influence of alcohol. He agreed to a suspended driver’s license for six months and one year of probation. The 52-year-old Swindal once was designated as George Steinbrenner’s successor to head of the Yankees. The team bought him out after one of the owner’s daughters filed for divorce from Swindal. Swindal was arrested by St. Petersburg police on Feb. 15 and charged with the misdemeanor. He was out of town and did not appear in court for the plea. Swindal has to attend DUI school and pay a total of $720.50 in fines and costs. He must do 50 hours of community service, which he can buy out of at $10 per hour. “We went ahead and resolved it the best way we could for the client,” said Swindal’s attorney, Kym B. Rivellini. Rivellini said defendants are not required to appear in court for the resolution of their first DUI offense if they don’t live in the area or are traveling. Police said Swindal, who has a residence in the Tampa area, was weaving and driving 61 mph in a 35 mph zone when he was pulled over. Jennifer Steinbrenner filed for divorce from Swindal in March. Swindal was a Yankees general partner and chairman of Yankee Global Enterprises LLC, the holding company for the team and its stake in the YES Network. Hal Steinbrenner, one of the owner’s sons, succeeded Swindal as chairman on Yankee Global Enterprises, a sign of his increased influence in the team’s operations. Hal Steinbrenner also is a director of YES and chief executive officer of Steinbrenner Hotel Properties. |