Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young was sentenced to five years of probation Tuesday after pleading no contest to felony battery in a Los Angeles Superior courtroom last month.
Young also was sentenced to one year in county jail, but was given time served by Judge Michael Shultz. He was ordered to spend one year in the Crosby Center, a live-in drug and addiction treatment center in San Diego, and cannot leave the facility. The 25-year-old could have faced up to three years in state prison.
If Young violates the terms of his sentencing, he will go to state prison for four years.
Martin Lijtmaer, Young's attorney, issued a statement saying Young "and his family are relieved and grateful that the court has granted probation in this case."
"I am pleased that Judge Shultz addressed the man, and not just the crime, in his sentencing today," the statement read. "I know first hand how hard Titus is working on his recovery and that he is making tremendous strides. He wants to be an inspiration to the legions of young men who have -- and will surely continue -- to battle concussion-related mental issues because of football. He is energized and excited by this second chance."
Young pleaded no contest to felony battery on April 8, almost nine months after he was arrested and charged with one count of felony battery and four misdemeanor counts of battery on school, park or hospital property at the 12000 block of South Wilmington Boulevard in Los Angeles, the same location as the Los Angeles County King-Drew medical center.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department initially responded to a suspected battery on July 8, 2014, after Young was involved in "a physical altercation with another male adult," according to a LASD statement at the time. When he was booked the next day, Young pleaded not guilty to all charges.
One of the misdemeanor counts was dropped in pre-trial hearings. The other three were dismissed as part of the plea agreement between Young and the district attorney's office.
This ends the latest part of what has been a tumultuous few years for Young. He had been arrested three times in one week in May 2013 -- once for suspicion of driving under the influence, another time for trying to take his car from a towing yard and a third time for alleged attempted burglary, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
By this time, Young had already been released by the Lions. Before his release, Young had been sent home by the Lions three separate times in his two years with Detroit. He was then claimed by St. Louis, but the Rams released him 10 days later.
Young, the No. 44 pick in the 2011 draft by the Detroit Lions out of Boise State, played in 26 games for the Lions with 81 catches for 990 yards and 10 touchdowns.