Two days after the Bills kick off their 2014 NFL regular season, Buffalo defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is scheduled to appear in court to face street racing charges.
Dareus appeared before Hamburg (N.Y.) Town Justice Gerald Gorman who set the nonjury trial for Sept. 9. If convicted of the most serious of the charges — reckless endangerment in the second degree — Dareus could face up to a year in jail.
Dareus crashed a 2012 Jaguar into a tree outside a restaurant after crossing two lanes of oncoming traffic in the afternoon on May 30, according to al.com. In addition to reckless endangerment, Dareus was charged with reckless driving, participating in an illegal speed contest and other traffic violations, including leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, failure to keep right, speeding and making an unsafe lane change.
Police said Dareus, who was arrested about 15 minutes after the alleged incident, was not hurt.
Reports of a plea deal were not confirmed by police or by Dareus and his attorney.
The Bills open their season on the road against the Chicago Bears.