Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler was sentenced to probation Thursday following a no contest plea to three misdemeanor charges stemming from a July arrest in St. Petersburg, according to Pinellas County court records.
Fowler, 23, will serve a year of probation and pay $2,575 in fines following his pleas of no contest to battery, criminal mischief and petty theft charges, according to the court records. He will also serve 75 hours of community service.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred in a Tampa-area apartment complex parking lot where the 2015 first-round pick was driving through on July 19.
Deputies said Fowler got into a verbal altercation with a man in the parking lot. The man had made a comment about Fowler's driving, according to an arrest report.
Deputies said Fowler hit the man, knocked off his glasses, and stepped on them. He then took the victim's recently purchased grocery bag, including liquor, and threw it into a lake. The victim was not hurt.
According to Miami-Dade County court records, Fowler was charged with assault of a police officer and resisting arrest in March 2016. Those charges were eventually dropped in December 2016 because Fowler went through a pretrial program, according to court records.
Fowler may be subject to potential discipline from the NFL following the sentencing.
The sentencing comes as the Jaguars mull whether or not to pick up Fowler's fifth-year contract option. The Jaguars have until May to determine Fowler's status for 2019.
Fowler produced 21 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles this past season. He has produced 53 tackles, 12 sacks and two forced fumbles during his two seasons of action.
TMZ was the first to report the sentencing.
Follow Mike Kaye on Twitter at @Mike_E_Kaye.
