April 11, 2006

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - UCLA placekicker Justin Medlock was sentenced Tuesday to three years' probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge in connection with an accident that injured a female member of the university's golf team.

A Superior Court judge also ordered Medlock, 22, to pay a $1,220 fine and serve five days of work for the California Department of Transportation, said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the district attorney's office. His driver's license will be restricted for a year.

Medlock initially faced two felony counts after the Dec. 10 accident, but they were dropped after he agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury to 20-year-old Hannah Jun, his lawyer said.

Authorities said Jun suffered a fractured vertebra in her neck.

"It's an unfortunate incident. He admits he made a mistake," said Medlock's attorney Milton Grimes.

After the sentencing, UCLA coach Karl Dorrell reinstated the senior placekicker. Medlock was suspended indefinitely after the accident and he missed the Bruins' 50-38 win over Northwestern in the Sun Bowl.

"Now that the legal proceedings have been finalized, I feel that missing the Sun Bowl and being suspended for four months is sufficient punishment ...," Dorrell said in a statement.

California Highway Patrol officers said Medlock was driving a 1998 Toyota pickup on the San Diego Freeway when he struck a call box and the truck flipped over.

CHP officers found the truck with only Jun inside. Medlock was later found walking on an Inglewood street about 1 1/2 miles from the scene.

Medlock originally was arrested for investigation of felony hit-and-run, but prosecutors declined to bring that charge against him.

Jun has fully recovered and is back practicing with the golf team, said UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins.