Panthers WR Jarrett pleads guilty to DWI charge

Carolina Panthers receiver Dwayne Jarrett pleaded guilty to driving while impaired on Monday, minutes before he was scheduled to go on trial.

Jarrett surrendered his driver’s license and was ordered to pay $420 in court costs and perform 24 hours of community service after appearing in Mecklenburg County District Court.

Jarrett will enter the first stage of the NFL’s substance abuse program, meaning he will be subject to more frequent tests for drugs and alcohol.

The 21-year-old Jarrett was arrested March 11 in the Charlotte suburb of Mint Hill after police say he crossed the center line and ran a red light. The police report said Jarrett’s blood-alcohol level was .12, above North Carolina’s legal limit of .08.

“This is a thing that happened and you learn from your mistakes,” the 6-foot-4 Jarrett said outside the courthouse. “You always have to take the right steps in everything you do. That’s life in general. I took full responsibility for what happened. I’m here in court. Everything worked out.”

The DWI arrest capped a tumultuous rookie season for Jarrett.