Mayfield working on plea deal to avoid jail time

Once NASCAR role model turned nightmare, Jeremy Mayfield

After more than a year of legal maneuvering, Jeremy Mayfield is talking to prosecutors about possible plea agreements but said Monday that he would not accept any plea deal under which he would go to jail on drug and stolen goods charges.

The former NASCAR driver appeared at a hearing Monday in North Carolina Superior Court in Newton, N.C. The hearing took less than a minute and left the case potentially open for more hearings later this week. Mayfield, who was suspended by NASCAR for a failed drug test in 2009, met with his attorney for about 40 minutes before leaving the courthouse.

“They are talking and hopefully we can get something worked out in the next couple of weeks and go from there," Mayfield said outside the courtroom. “It possibly could (happen this week). Communication is open.

“But I wouldn’t be sitting here telling you I’m hoping … I go to jail. … I’m hoping we get it over. I will look at you right now and tell you no (to jail time)."

Mayfield attorney David Freedman said all possibilities are being discussed and that it is doubtful that something would happen this week. He said he would have a good feel for a direction in the case in the next month.

Mayfield faces 19 felony counts across three North Carolina counties that carry a maximum of 43 years in jail, although it is doubtful the sentence would be that long even if he were convicted on all counts.

In Catawba County, where the hearing was Monday, Mayfield faces one felony count of possession of methamphetamine, three felony counts of possession of stolen goods and one felony count of obtaining stolen goods by false pretenses.

Out on bond, Mayfield also faces four counts of felony larceny in Caldwell County, which has the same prosecutor as the charges in Catawba County. He faces 10 felony charges — seven charges of breaking and entering and three for larceny — in Iredell County.

Mayfield’s next court dates are Jan. 14 in Caldwell County and Feb. 18 in Iredell County. It is possible that a plea agreement could cover the Catawba and Caldwell charges because of the shared prosecutor’s office between the two counties. Sporting News