Terrelle Pryor, girlfriend plead guilty in domestic case, get probation

Former NFL wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and his girlfriend, who were involved in a bloody domestic incident last year, pleaded guilty to reduced counts Tuesday in Allegheny County Court that left them both on probation.

Pryor, 30, a former Jeannette High School football standout, pleaded guilty to a summary count of harassment and was ordered by Judge Anthony M. Mariani to serve 90 days non-reporting probation.

Shalaya Briston, 25, pleaded guilty to simple assault and was ordered to serve two years probation.

At the request of both defense attorneys and the prosecution, Mariani lifted a no-contact order that had been in place for the couple since charges were initially filed.

After the cases concluded, the couple were able to hug in the courthouse, said Briston’s attorney, Lee Rothman.

Police were called to their Heinz Lofts apartment in Pittsburgh about 4:15 a.m. on Nov. 30.

An argument, police said, turned into a physical altercation. Pryor was stabbed in the chest and shoulder area and sustained significant blood loss. Briston had a bruised nose.

Rothman said that she was defending herself when she stabbed Pryor. Briston was initially charged with attempted homicide and spent 30 days in jail prior to getting a bond.

Rothman told Mariani on Tuesday that his client was prepared to go to trial but that the process is expensive, risky and would cause emotional turmoil.

“We had a very viable self defense,” Rothman said.

Instead, the plea agreement, he continued, was an appropriate resolution.

“I believe a maturity process has played out on her end,” Rothman said.

Previously, Briston had no criminal record and worked in the hospitality industry, Rothman said. Under Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Act, simple assault can be removed from her record after 10 years.

During Pryor’s hearing, said defense attorney Stephen Colafella, “Terrelle was very contrite and accepting responsibility in his limited role in what happened.”

During the hearings, Mariani commented on Pryor’s size and athletic prowess, telling him that there was nothing he could say to justify putting his hands on a woman.

Since the incident, Colafella said both Pryor and Briston have had time to reflect on what happened.

“They’re still together. They want to stay together,” Colafella said. “This has been such an ordeal for both of them, and somehow they’ve managed to persevere through it.

“I think they realized what could have been lost through all this. They seem to be in a good place,” Colafella said.

Briston is a Munhall native who previously lived with Pryor.

Prior was a standout at Jeannette, starred at Ohio State and played with nine NFL teams, including the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders, in a pro career.