Furcal gets concurrent sentence on second DUI

ATLANTA - Atlanta Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal, who is serving a 21-day jail sentence for being arrested while on probation, pleaded guilty Thursday to a second drunken driving charge.<br> <br> Furcal&#39;s latest sentence will run concurrently with the remaining 19 days of his current jail term in Cobb County. He entered jail Tuesday, the day after the Braves lost their division series to the Houston Astros.<br> <br> After his release from jail Nov. 1, Furcal also must enter a 28-day in-house alcohol treatment program, serve about 10 months of probation, complete 240 hours of community service and attend two alcohol education courses one for 20 hours and another for 17 weeks. The more lengthy course must be completed for him to get his driver&#39;s license back.<br> <br> Atlanta Municipal Traffic Court Judge Edward Baety ruled that Furcal can return home to the Dominican Republic from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 to renew his passport.<br> <br> Furcal, 26, was arrested Sept. 10 in Atlanta and charged with driving under the influence, his second such offense in four years. He had faced three days to a year in jail.<br> <br> ``Everything went about as well as we could expect,&#39;&#39; said Furcal&#39;s attorney, William Head. ``From the start, we were trying to get him a package deal.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Braves spokesman Greg Hughes had no immediate comment.<br> <br> Last week, Cobb County State Judge David Darden allowed Furcal to participate in the Braves&#39; playoff game despite his recent arrest violating his probation stemming from his first drunken driving charge in June 2000. Darden ordered Furcal to start serving 21 days in jail on the day after the Braves&#39; season ended. The judge also ordered him to enter a 28-day in-house treatment program after jail.<br> <br> Furcal appeared in the Atlanta court Thursday wearing a Cobb County jail sweatshirt with his hands cuffed in front of him. He spoke very little during the hearing, answering ``yes&#39;&#39; several times to routine questions from the judge and ``guilty&#39;&#39; when the judge asked him how he pleaded.<br> <br> Furcal, the 2000 National League rookie of the year, batted .279 with 14 homers, 59 RBIs and 29 stolen bases during the regular season. His team lost in Game 5 of their playoff series with the Astros.

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