Clarett Avoids Jail With Lesser Plea

Suspended Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett, accused of lying on a police report, avoided a criminal record by pleading guilty Wednesday to a lesser charge that carries no jail time.

Clarett, 20, pleaded guilty to failure to aid a law enforcement officer. Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Mark S. Froehlich ordered him to pay the maximum fine of $100.

The sophomore, who helped Ohio State win the 2002 national championship, was accused of filing a campus police report that exaggerated the value of items stolen from a dealership car he borrowed in April.

Had he been convicted of the original falsification charge, he could have faced penalties ranging from probation to six months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

The settlement could clear the way for Clarett to rejoin the Buckeyes, but the university has not yet asked the NCAA to reinstate him.

He must meet school conditions such as making academic progress and donating money to a charity to make up for the benefits. Clarett is eligible to practice.

Linebackers Alika Durington and Laiana Wong, defensive end Tony Akpan, offensive lineman Larry Saufea and defensive back Orlando Wong must sit out one of Hawaii’s first four games next season for their roles in a postgame fight with players from Houston at the Hawaii Bowl.

A sixth player, offensive lineman Shayne Kajioka, was a senior and will serve disciplinary action outside of the program.

Washington State receiver Devard Darling will give up his final year of eligibility and declare himself available for April’s NFL draft.

Tennis

Jelena Dokic will not play in the Australian Open for a third consecutive year after informing organizers that she wasn’t prepared for the tournament.

Andre Agassi defeated Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, 6-2, 6-4, in the Kooyong International exhibition tournament at Melbourne, Australia.

Top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne opened with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Conchita Martinez in the Adidas International at Sydney, Australia.

On the men’s side, former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt won nine consecutive games after trailing, 4-0, in the first set to defeat Karol Kucera, 6-4, 6-1.

Qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber beat sixth-seeded Gaston Gaudio, 7-6 (3), 6-1, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Heineken Open at Auckland, New Zealand.

Fifth-seeded Vince Spadea defeated qualifier Fred Hemmes Jr., 6-1, 6-2, to set up a quarterfinal match with third-seeded Gustavo Kuerten, who defeated Alberto Martin, 6-2, 6-4.

Amy Frazier reached the semifinals of the Moorilla International with a 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory over Italy’s Maria Elena Camerin at Hobart, Australia.

Miscellany

USA Track & Field changed its false start rule to conform with regulations adopted last year by the sport’s global governing body.

The new rule calls for the first false start in any race to be charged to the field. Subsequent false starts would result in the disqualification of the athlete responsible for it.

Former San Diego State quarterback Lon Sheriff has signed with the Avengers of the Arena Football League.

International Olympic Committee vice president Kim Un-yong, 72, accused of embezzlement and other financial wrongdoing, was in intensive care in Seoul after he collapsed.

Austria’s Stephanie Graf, the silver medalist in the 800 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, announced her retirement.

Former Cofidis cycling team riders Robert Sassone and Marek Rutkiewicz and team assistant Boguslaw Madejak were arrested in Paris as part of a performance-enhancing drug investigation.

Ed Moses of the United States won the 100-meter breaststroke, completing a three-race sweep at the FINA World Cup short-course swimming meet at Stockholm, Sweden.

The World Synchronized Swimming Showcase, an international synchronized exhibition, will be held June 19-20 at Long Beach.

Passings

Mike Goliat, a second baseman on the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies’ pennant-winning “Whiz Kids” team, died at his home in Seven Hills, Ohio. He was 82.