Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS ó Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller was sentenced Monday to 60 days in the county workhouse for resisting Minneapolis police officers after a traffic stop, a punishment that went beyond prosecutors’ recommendations.
Hennepin County District Judge Dan Mabley denied a request from Eller’s attorney to delay the sentence during an appeal and immediately ordered Eller into custody.
Mabley said he wanted to send a message that he thought Eller’s public criticism of the courts and police were baseless. Eller has filed a federal lawsuit claiming officers violated his civil rights, used excessive force and concealed videotape evidence of his arrest.
“This was a stern sentence,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said.
Eller’s attorney, Albert Goins, called the sentence “extraordinary.”.
“We are surprised and chagrined that the judge would impose a jail sentence,” Goins said.