Jerramy Stevens is 30 years old, and has a history of legal troubles starting when he was just 18.
A star tight end at the University of Washington and then a member of the Seattle Seahawks, the Seattle Times dug into his background in 2008 for an investigative piece on the Washington Huskies.
Stevens was born in November 1979.
Throughout high school – In high school, a Thurston County sheriff’s captain wrote, Stevens and another student allegedly punched holes in a classroom wall. The sheriff’s office heard that Stevens violated school rules on alcohol and marijuana; kicked a football teammate in the testicles; and threatened referees in a basketball game after he was ejected for being too aggressive on the court. This is all hearsay, and no charges were brought. In the report, the captain wrote “We are told the school learned of the vandalism and quietly permitted payment of the damage.”
June 1998 – 18 years old (Seattle Times):
In the spring of 1998, when he was a senior in high school, Stevens showed up at a prearranged fight in a park. There, his friend hit a 17-year-old, James Hoover, in the head with a baseball bat.
After Hoover collapsed — unconscious — Stevens jumped up and stomped on his face.
Stevens agreed to a plea deal of a charge of misdemeanor assault.
July 1998 – While on house arrest for the above incident, Stevens tested positive for marijuana, violating the terms of his home confinement. He spent three weeks in the Thurston County lockup.
Fall 1999 – Stevens earned award for ‘most improved’ Washington Huskie.
July 2000 – Arrested for sexual assault. Police suspected a date rape drug was given to the woman at the party. A witness said she was “Half passed out … eyes glazed … no one home” Stevens maintained the sex was consensual, and the woman claims it was not. The King County prosecutor declined to file rape charges
May 2001 – Just before 1 a.m., Stevens slammed his red Toyota pickup into the side of a retirement home. Stevens lied to police, saying he didn’t know who had been driving the truck. Caught in the lie, he apologized. A month later, Stevens pleaded guilty to hit-and-run and received a 90-day jail sentence, suspended on condition that he stay out of trouble.
April 2002 – Drafted in first round by Seattle Seahawks.
April 2003 – On field-sobriety tests, Stevens couldn’t walk a straight line or keep his balance. His blood-alcohol level was about twice the legal limit. He was charged with reckless driving and driving while intoxicated. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was fined $1,000 and was sentenced to two days in jail because the judge ruled Stevens violated his probation from the hit-and-run case. Stevens told the judge, “I am very sorry for violating my probation. I have taken steps to make sure nothing like this will ever happen again."
March 2007 – Arrested in Scottsdale, Ariz., for marijuana possession and DUI. Blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.204, considered “extreme DUI” in Arizona. Found guilty and sentenced to 12 days in jail and fined $3,160. The Seahawks confirm they would not resign Stevens.
March 2007 – Neighbors hope Jeremy Stevens moves far away. He has parties that last all night. He has set off illegal fireworks from his deck, showering other units with debris. He takes up two spaces in a lot reserved for the building’s retail shops. He gives the building security code to friends, who walk in at all hours. One resident woke to find his deck splattered with vomit. Another found used condoms. Others told of being awakened at 3 a.m. by loud fights, or were startled by strangers who partook of their patios.
April 2007 – Jerramy Stevens signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
January 2008 – Seattle Times publishes the Washington Huskies special report which details Stevens’ brushes with the law, and the school’s brushing it under the carpet.
May 2008 – Bucs re-sign Stevens. Bucs fans are outraged with the decision, and the Bucs response is to pretend nothing is wrong. Buccaneers.com threatens to ban anyone who posts a link to the article on their bulletin board.
June 2008 – Stevens was suspended for two games and fined three game checks after violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
October 2010 – Stevens pulled over for playing loud music, and arrested with 38 grams of pot. That amount suggests intent to distribute or sell. The Buccaneers released Stevens.