Lakers' Reaves could return for game three against Rockets
Austin Reaves is 'questionable' for game three against the Suns as Lakers lead series 2-0.
Alshon Jeffery pleads not guilty to two felony charges of insurance fraud, claiming it was a miscommunication. The case involves a car crash where he allegedly filed a false claim after having no insurance at the time of the accident.
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SAN DIEGO – Retired Super Bowl-winning NFL receiver Alshon Jeffery showed up in court here on April 23, and pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of insurance fraud after failing to show up in court for his last scheduled court appearance March 9.
Jeffery, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears, also issued a denial of the allegations against him through his attorney, Brian Watkins.
“This case is just a miscommunication mishap,” Watkins told USA TODAY Sports after the court proceeding. “The insurance company didn’t pay out any money or anything. It’s all just miscommunication. It’s not even really a case.”
San Diego prosecutors disagree. The case stems from a car crash last September, when Jeffery rear-ended a Lyft driver’s Tesla on northbound Interstate 5 in San Diego County. According to court records from prosecutors obtained by USA TODAY Sports, Jeffery had no insurance coverage when the crash happened on Sept. 21, but he filed a false claim stating the accident happened Sept. 28 − after he obtained a new insurance policy on Sept. 24.
Repair estimates showed $13,058.90 in damages to Jeffery’s 2021 Mercedes, while the Lyft driver's Tesla sustained more than $10,000 in damage, according to a court filing from an investigator for the San Diego County District Attorney.
Jeffery, 36, was pulled over and arrested in Encinitas, California, April 15, after his failure to appear in court last time led to a warrant for his arrest, according to the San Diego County Sherriff's Office.
Jeffery appeared this time in front of San Diego Superior Court Judge Aaron Katz and let his attorney do most of the talking in court. Dressed in black dress pants and a light jacket, Jeffery affirmed to the judge he was waiving his right to a preliminary hearing within 10 court days of his not-guilty plea on April 23.
The preliminary hearing is now scheduled for July 13.
Alshon Jeffery faces two felony charges of insurance fraud related to a car accident.
The charges stem from a car crash in September where Jeffery rear-ended a Lyft driver while allegedly uninsured.
Jeffery's attorney stated that the case is a 'miscommunication mishap' and that no money was paid out by the insurance company.
The crash resulted in over $13,000 in damages to Jeffery's Mercedes and more than $10,000 in damages to the Lyft driver's Tesla.
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Highmark Stadium. Buffalo Bills. Opening in 2026.
Allegiant Stadium. Las Vegas Raiders. Opened in 2020.
SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. Opened in 2020.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta Falcons. Opened in 2017.
U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota Vikings. Opened in 2016.
Levi's Stadium. San Francisco 49ers. Opened in 2014.
MetLife Stadium. New York Giants and New York Jets. Opened in 2010.
AT&T Stadium. Dallas Cowboys. Opened in 2009.
Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis Colts. Opened in 2008.
State Farm Stadium. Arizona Cardinals. Opened in 2006.
Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia Eagles. Opened in 2003.
Ford Field. Detroit Lions. Opened in 2002.
NRG Stadium. Houston Texans. Opened in 2002.
Gillette Stadium. New England Patriots. Opened in 2002.
Lumen Field. Seattle Seahawks. Opened in 2002.
Empower Field at Mile High. Denver Broncos. Opened in 2001.
Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh Steelers. Opened in 2001.
Huntington Bank Field. Cleveland Browns. Opened in 1999.
Nissan Stadium. Tennessee Titans. Opened in 1999.
M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore Ravens. Opened in 1998.
Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Opened in 1998.
Northwest Stadium. Washington Football Team. Opened in 1997.
Bank of America Stadium. Carolina Panthers. Opened in 1996.
EverBank Stadium. Jacksonville Jaguars. Opened in 1995.
Hard Rock Stadium. Miami Dolphins. Opened in 1987.
Caesars Superdome. New Orleans Saints. Opened in 1975.
Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City Chiefs. Opened in 1972.
Lambeau Field. Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957.
Soldier Field. Chicago Bears. Opened in 1924.
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Highmark Stadium. Buffalo Bills. Opening in 2026.
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Highmark Stadium. Buffalo Bills. Opening in 2026.
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Allegiant Stadium. Las Vegas Raiders. Opened in 2020.
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SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. Opened in 2020.
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Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta Falcons. Opened in 2017.
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U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota Vikings. Opened in 2016.
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Levi's Stadium. San Francisco 49ers. Opened in 2014.
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MetLife Stadium. New York Giants and New York Jets. Opened in 2010.
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AT&T Stadium. Dallas Cowboys. Opened in 2009.
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Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis Colts. Opened in 2008.
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State Farm Stadium. Arizona Cardinals. Opened in 2006.
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Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia Eagles. Opened in 2003.
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Ford Field. Detroit Lions. Opened in 2002.
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NRG Stadium. Houston Texans. Opened in 2002.
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Gillette Stadium. New England Patriots. Opened in 2002.
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Lumen Field. Seattle Seahawks. Opened in 2002.
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Empower Field at Mile High. Denver Broncos. Opened in 2001.
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Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh Steelers. Opened in 2001.
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Huntington Bank Field. Cleveland Browns. Opened in 1999.
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Nissan Stadium. Tennessee Titans. Opened in 1999.
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M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore Ravens. Opened in 1998.
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Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Opened in 1998.
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Northwest Stadium. Washington Football Team. Opened in 1997.
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Bank of America Stadium. Carolina Panthers. Opened in 1996.
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EverBank Stadium. Jacksonville Jaguars. Opened in 1995.
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Hard Rock Stadium. Miami Dolphins. Opened in 1987.
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Caesars Superdome. New Orleans Saints. Opened in 1975.
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Lambeau Field. Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957.
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Soldier Field. Chicago Bears. Opened in 1924.
By hiring Watkins, Jeffery is getting an attorney with experience in high-profile local cases. Watkins previously represented former NFL star tight end Kellen Winslow in his trial on rape charges in San Diego County in 2019. Watkins also represented aspiring marketer Lloyd Lake in his civil case against former USC football star Reggie Bush – a case that helped lead to sanctions against the USC football program.
Jeffery earned more than $63 million during his NFL career from 2012 to 2020, according to Spotrac. He played college football at South Carolina and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. He was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2013 season and later was named one of the team’s best 100 players of all-time (No. 80) in the team’s centennial scrapbook in 2019.
After signing with the Eagles in 2017, Jeffery caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl in 2018, when the Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33.
Court records show Jeffery recently has lived in Encinitas, a coastal city in north San Diego County.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former NFL receiver Alshon Jeffery denies insurance fraud allegations