La Russa to agree to reduced charge (report)

White Sox manager Tony La Russa has agreed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving stemming from his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol this past February in Phoenix, according to a report by The Athletic (subscription required). Neither La Russa nor the White Sox have commented on the report.

La Russa will plead guilty to reckless driving (a Class 2 misdemeanor) and not to driving under the influence, The Athletic reports. It dictates that La Russa serve a day in jail as part of his punishment, but the state of Arizona stipulated that it is not opposed to reducing that sentence to a work release or home detention, pending a judge’s approval. The mandatory day in jail is standard for DUI offenses in Arizona, but a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Justice Courts told The Athletic that it will be determined whether La Russa’s reckless driving plea will also require that punishment when he is due to appear in a telephonic hearing in front of a judge on Dec. 21.

La Russa’s agreement also calls for La Russa to pay a $1,383 fine plus incarceration expenses and to complete 20 hours of community service, per The Athletic.

La Russa, 76, was originally charged with two DUI class 1 misdemeanor counts after he was arrested on Feb. 24 in Phoenix.