Jim Lampley pleads no contest, gets probation

By: TERI FIGUEROA - Staff Writer | Wednesday, February 21, 2007 11:18 PM PST ∞

VISTA -- Sports announcer Jim Lampley pleaded no contest Wednesday morning to a misdemeanor charge that he violated a restraining order to keep away from his former girlfriend after he allegedly attacked her in their Encinitas home on New Year's Eve.

Lampley, 57, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling program, which Lampley can complete through one-on-one sessions, according to court documents and Deputy District Attorney Per Hellstrom, who prosecuted the case.

In criminal court, a plea of no contest has the same effect as a guilty plea.

The San Diego District Attorney's office announced last week they planned to charge Lampley; he was scheduled to be arraigned in March. However, Lampley "wanted to come in early and take care of this," Hellstrom said Wednesday.

Superior Court Judge Laura Parsky also fined Lampley $674 and ordered him to do 40 hours of volunteer work. Lampley's sentence was relatively standard for a first-time offender in a domestic violence case.

Lampley will not face charges for the alleged attack itself, Hellstrom said, adding that his office reviewed Sanders' allegations of domestic violence, but found "insufficient evidence to prove it."

The prosecutor noted that the legal standard "is very high" when it comes to proving a case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In sentencing Lampley, the judge also issued a protective order, which is standard in such cases. Under the order, Lampley may not legally come within 100 yards of former girlfriend Candice Sanders for the next three years. The order can be modified to allow contact between the two, but only if Sanders makes the request.

Sanders, who was Miss California USA in 2003, received a temporary restraining order against Lampley on Jan. 2. The longtime sportscaster was arrested the following day after he showed up at her home. He was released after posting $35,000 bail.

In her application for the restraining order, Sanders accused Lampley of throwing her into two walls and a door, and alleged that Lampley drank alcohol and smoked marijuana before attacking her.

Lampley's attorney, Thomas Warwick, did not return requests for comment.

The announcer, who most notably covers boxing for HBO as well as the Olympics, denied Sanders' allegations.

"I did not commit a violent act," Lampley said as part of a statement he released Wednesday afternoon.

Aside from the criminal case involving Lampley, the sportscaster also faced civil court proceedings related to the restraining order itself.

However, a hearing as to whether to extend the length of the restraining order won by Sanders was canceled at Sanders' request. With the cancellation, the restraining order is not in effect past today.

The restraining order was essentially a civil action; the protective order to keep Lampley away from Sanders for three years is tied to the criminal charges that arose from the case.

The action in both cases Wednesday essentially ends the court process for Lampley, although he must show proof that he is complying with the year-long domestic violence counseling.

-- Contact staff writer Teri Figueroa at (760) 631-6624 or tfigueroa@nctimes.com.