Possible Plea Deal In Ex-Cub Mark Grace's DUI Case

Mark Grace, the former Cub who went on to a World Series with the Diamondbacks and then broadcast for Arizona, got himself in trouble in the summer of 2012 when he was arrested for DUI; it was the second such arrest, which can lead to mandatory prison time in the state of Arizona. The Arizona Republic reports that Grace could be negotiating a plea deal:

Grace, charged with four counts of aggravated DUI that could result in prison time, is scheduled to appear in court Thursday for a status conference or to enter a change of plea on DUI charges, according to court documents.

"While the state and defense counsel have discussed a possible plea agreement, it remains to be seen whether Mr. Grace will enter the plea at Thursday’s status conference or choose to affirm the trial date instead," said Jerry Cobb, spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

A plea deal would make sense for Grace, who faces from one to 3.75 years in prison for each of four counts under which he's been indicted, although:

the sentences would likely be imposed concurrently, Jerry Cobb, spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, said recently.

Cobb added that Grace could receive a more lenient sentence if pleads guilty to reduced charges.

If no accord is reached, Grace could go to trial March 19, Cobb said.

It would seem to me that Grace would want to avoid the publicity of a trial that would take place during spring training, when reporters from Chicago are in the Phoenix area, not to mention the "more lenient sentence" noted above. To his credit, Grace takes total responsibility for what he did:

In an interview with the Republic earlier this month, Grace said, "I have nobody to blame but myself."

"I did this," he said at the time.. "The Diamondbacks didn’t do anything. I think it’s important to own this. I own this."