VERO BEACH – Jamal Riggins Jr., 18, a former Sebastian River High School football star, was sentenced to more than 13 months in prison for carrying a concealed firearm, and five years probation for a charge of child abuse in Vero Beach.
In a plea deal that was negotiated by his Vero Beach defense attorney, Jeffrey Garland, Riggins will not have to register as a sex offender.
Garland says Riggins was a star athlete, and might still be one some day.
Riggins pleaded no contest to the two charges Friday afternoon.
The former Sebastian football player was accused of having sex with minor in the team room with a 14-year-old girl after he was ejected from a game in November.
While Riggins was out on bail for a charge of lewd or lascivious battery, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office arrested him for carrying a concealed firearm in February.
As part of the plea deal, the charge of lewd or lascivious battery was changed to child abuse, according to Garland. Both the state and the 14-year-old girl agreed to the deal, he said.
Riggins also avoided a longer prison sentence with a lewd or lascivious battery charge, which carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison, followed by lifetime probation.
Other conditions to his sentence include curfew, sex offender counseling and therapy, and annual polygraph exams.
Riggins could be out of prison in about nine months and be evaluated so extra conditions that were added to his probation could be modified.
