Iowa football player Brandon Snyder pleads guilty to drunken driving

IOWA CITY - A University of Iowa football player arrested in December for drunken driving has pleaded guilty, according to court records.

Court records show that Brandon Snyder, 22, a junior free safety, pleaded guilty to drunken driving on Friday.

In the plea agreement, the Johnson County Attorney's Office agreed that Snyder could avoid a two-day jail sentence by participating in the Kirkwood Community College OWI Weekend Program. Snyder also will be subject to a $1,250 fine, as well as surcharges and court costs.

Snyder was arrested around 3 a.m. on Dec. 10 near Kinnick Stadium at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Hawkins Drive. Iowa City police said he was called in by an off-duty dispatcher as a reckless driver.

Authorities said Snyder admitted to drinking, was wearing bar wristbands, showed impairment on field sobriety tests and failed a preliminary breath test.

Subsequent breath testing showed Snyder's blood alcohol content to be .163 percent, more than twice the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle in Iowa.

Following Snyder's arrest, Iowa head Coach Kirk Ferentz said Snyder would be subject to the rules and regulations of the UI Student-Athlete Code of Conduct, as well as the rules and regulations of the football program.

Snyder suffered a torn ACL last spring, but made his return to the field for the Illinois game on Oct. 7. However, he suffered another ACL tear and was declared out for the season on Nov. 4.

Ferentz said Snyder was expected to return to full health in June.

Marc Morehouse of The Gazette contributed to this report.

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