COVINGTON, Ky. -- Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga said Friday he was not guilty of drinking, driving and causing an accident on Scott Street in Covington.
The plea came during a video arraignment in Kenton District Court -- an appearance in which the 23-year-old appeared unsteady. He's free on his own recognizance until a preliminary hearing Feb. 25.
"We won't be treating it any differently than any other case," said Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson.
Authorities say Maualuga was at the Mad Hatter on Scott Street early Friday, then left around 1:45 a.m. and got behind the wheel of a Pontiac Sunfire owned by a Trenton woman. Also with him were two teenage girls -- one 18-years-old and the other 17-years-old.
"It collided with two parked vehicles and a parking meter and received substantial damage from the collision," said Covington Police Lt. Col. Michael "Spike" Jones.
A picture on the web site "tmz.com" shows Maualuga and the teens standing by the wrecked car at the accident scene.
The investigating officers administered a field sobriety test and then placed Maualuga under arrest. In their report they noted slurred speech, watery eyes and that he was unsteady on his feet.
"The officers felt that his level of intoxication rose to the point that he needed to be incarcerated," said Lt. Col. Jones. "He was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and careless driving."
The police report indicates Maualuga's blood alcohol level was 0.157, nearly twice the legal limit in Kentucky. It also shows he told officers he had "about (6) Captain and Coke drinks."
"He certainly was under the influence. There's no doubt about that," said Edmondson.
"He knew it and shouldn't have been driving and he knows that he should have been driving."
Edmondson said he's troubled by the fact the two girls were in the car at the time of the accident. Both are under the legal drinking age in Kentucky. Neither was hurt.
"That's still being looked at by Covington Police," he said. "We'll be taking a look at that as well."
A camera in one of the Covington Police cruisers recorded the arrest, but Edmondson he'll review the images next week before he decides whether it can be released to the media.
It's Maualuga's first drinking and driving offense in Kentucky. If convicted, he could
face a fine and court costs of about $800, according to Edmmondson.
The penalty could be much stiffer from the National Football League. Maualuga's arrest is a violation of the NFL conduct policy. He could be fined the equivalent of two game checks -- a minimum of $50,000.
After several other incidents with players the Bengals instituted a player help line where they would call for rides or other assistance.
Team spokesperson Jack Brennan said the Bengals aren't going to comment on what individual players do or don't do in those situations.
Maualuga was the Bengals second round draft pick in 2009 out of USC. He had 63 tackles, three forced fumbles and one sack in his first season, which ended in week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs when he fractured his ankle.
