THE SIDELINES : McCants’ Agent Fined $5,000 for Violating Registration Law
Texas sports agent Lance Luchnick, who represented Alabama linebacker Keith McCants, pleaded guilty today to a reduced charge of violating Alabama’s sports agent registration law and was fined $5,000.
Mobile County Circuit Judge Braxton Kittrell suspended a six-month jail sentence for the San Antonio lawyer.
Luchnick pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of trying to violate the registration law.
In a plea-bargain agreement, Luchnick avoided a felony charge for his representation of McCants during NFL negotiations after the Mobile native gave up his senior season at the University of Alabama so he could turn pro. McCants signed with Tampa Bay.
In Alabama, failure of a sports agent to register with the state is punishable by a $5,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison. The law was passed by the state Legislature in hopes of protecting student-athletes from unscrupulous agents.
Luchnick said before the NFL draft that he had not registered with the Alabama Athlete Agents Regulatory Commission. Pearl Maxwell, a commission spokeswoman, said Luchnick sent in an application but it was rejected.
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