Vikings charged with misdemeanors for party boat incident.

[Phlegm]

From Associated Press:


MINNEAPOLIS -- Quarterback Daunte Culpepper and three other Minnesota Vikings were charged Thursday with three misdemeanors each for taking part in a bawdy boat party earlier this season on Lake Minnetonka.

Culpepper, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot and Moe Williams were charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct and lewd or lascivious conduct, according to court papers.

If convicted, each player faces up to a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine on each count.

Prosecutor Steve Tallen's decision was based on findings by the Hennepin County sheriff's office, whose investigators reviewed allegations of lewd and drunken behavior aboard a floating party Oct. 6 that involved some Vikings players.

Sheriff Pat McGowan said others might have been charged, but authorities weren't able to identify them sufficiently.

"The night of the incident, there was no shortage of inappropriate behavior on both boats," he said at a news conference.

Crew members complained that some people took off their clothes and engaged in public sex acts during the cruise, according to Stephen Doyle, an attorney representing the boat owners, Al & Alma's Supper Club and Charter Cruises in Mound. The crew members identified 17 Vikings among about 90 people on the two boats.

The court papers released Thursday said Smoot and defensive end Lance Johnstone arranged the charter.

Smoot declined comment in the team's locker room before practice. Both Culpepper and Williams are on injured reserve and in rehabilitation on their own, away from the team. McKinnie wasn't seen in the locker room.

Vikings coach Mike Tice was careful with his reaction.

"According to NFL rules and union contracts, there is a large difference between allegations and charges and convictions," Tice said just before his routine news conference. "So until at any point there is a conviction of some type, if there is, I have no action to take and nothing to say."

After that, Tice threatened to stop talking to reporters if anyone asked more questions about the allegations.

Reports that some women at the party were paid to come from out of state had raised the possibility of federal charges, but U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger said Thursday that no such charges would be brought. Heffelfinger cited insufficient evidence.

That decision, along with sheriff's decision to send the case to Tallen's office, meant any charges would be minor. Tallen is the prosecuting attorney for the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District, which handles nonfelony crimes committed on the big lake just west of Minneapolis.

The boat scandal hit the Vikings when they were already reeling, off to a 1-3 start, and made them the object of national ridicule on late-night TV and cable sports channels. New owner Zygi Wilf, who had been seeking state help for a new stadium, responded forcefully, apologizing to Gov. Tim Pawlenty and other state officials and instituting a new code of conduct.

The team has since recovered on the field and, with quarterback Brad Johnson replacing the injured Culpepper, reeled off six straight wins to become a playoff contender at 8-5.

Running back Michael Bennett said he didn't think the charges would hurt the team heading into Sunday's game against Pittsburgh.

"Everybody's upbeat," he said. "We have the distraction today, but again we've dealt with it pretty well.

[Beelz]

they will all receive suspensions in 2007, because we all know it takes about 2-3 years before anything you do catches up to you. Look at the recent suspension of the Seattle player for a disturbance in 2003.

[Susvain]

I like how on every report and article, it will headline "Dante Culpepper and other viking players fined"

[Emongmai]

they will all receive suspensions in 2007, because we all know it takes about 2-3 years before anything you do catches up to you. Look at the recent suspension of the Seattle player for a disturbance in 2003.

The collective bargaining agreement the NFLPA has with the NFL states that no disciplinary action(suspension or fine, a coach can sit whoever for whatever whenever) is to be taken until a player accused of a crime has had their trial and all legal proceedings are 100% settled.

Every single charge in this cased is based solely on eye witness accounts. These players are millionaires with millionaire lawyers. It will be hard to get most any of these charges to stick after these lawyers rip into the witnesses and the D.A.

[Minrott]

hehe I listened to the sheriff's deputy read the charges. "Fred Smoot....for manipulating..ah...an ah...sex...toy in um...two women..ah"

hahaha

Poor guy had to be thinking "This is the worst day of my life."

[Tuggan]

theyre havin charges pressed against them for havin a party on a boat? wtf

[Minrott]

The boat was staffed with a catering crew and deck crew that included teenagers. They're being charged for indecent exposure, lewd conduct etc for exposing the kids to naked women and manipulating double headed dildos in front of them.

[Tuggan]

goddamn children always fucking up a good time.

[Minrott]

I know it. I really don't see anything wrong with what they did. They were just stupid to rent a boat with a crew.