Tony Romo's Wisconsin OWI Plea Includes Mandatory Jail Clause for Future Offenses
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo accepted a plea that imposes a mandatory jail term if he is convicted of another OWI within ten years, along with other penalties and program requirements.
A Wisconsin court approved a plea agreement for former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo that mandates a jail sentence if he receives another operating while intoxicated (OWI) conviction within the next decade. The deal also requires Romo to install an ignition interlock device on all his vehicles, pay a fine exceeding $700, and surrender his driver’s license for six months. He must also complete an alcohol assessment program, and in return prosecutors dropped four additional citations he faced, including charges for possessing open intoxicants, unsafe passing, and refusing a sobriety test.
Romo entered a no-contest plea after being stopped on a Milwaukee highway on July 23 following a round of golf. Police said he made an unsafe lane change and exhibited signs of impairment; a blood-alcohol test recorded a .15 percent level, nearly twice the legal limit.
In a later Instagram post, Romo attributed his behavior to pain and medication issues stemming from multiple back surgeries, stating that the resulting dependence on pain medication led to increased alcohol use. He said he is taking responsibility, focusing on his health and family, and requested privacy during the period.
"Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain," Romo wrote. "That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol." "I kindly ask for privacy during this period," he added.