Darren Sharper sentenced in Los Angeles as prosecutions conclude
— -- A judge in Los Angeles has sentenced former NFL star Darren Sharper to 20 years in prison for raping two women and drugging two others, but under terms that would total about half that time in custody.
The sentencing Tuesday marks the end of prosecutions in four states for the former All-Pro safety, who won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints.
Sharper pleaded no contest in a deal negotiated with prosecutors in four states. But the deal was superseded by a judge in New Orleans who said it was too lenient and sentenced Sharper to 18 years. Sharper was also convicted of rapes or sexual assaults in Nevada and Arizona.
"I can only imagine myself lying there like a vegetable while he took advantage of my body without my permission," one of the victims said in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I have lost every bit of self-confidence I've ever had and am always in fear while alone. It doesn't matter whether it's day or night, I can see a guy and automatically in my head think, 'What if this guy tries to rape me?'"?
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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