So What Kind of Charges Could Tiger Woods Face?

As FHP ramps up investigation, legal expert outlines laundry list of misdemeanors that might be handed down

By Gina Serpe, Lindsay Miller Nov 30, 2009 9:30 PMTags
Elin Woods, Tiger WoodsDavid Cannon/Getty Images

How are things for Tiger Woods at the moment? To borrow a phrase from his more animated namesake, they're not so grrreat.

And possibly getting worse.

Earlier this morning, the increasingly frustrated Florida Highway Patrol confirmed Woods' continued stonewalling of the investigation into Friday morning's scandal-plagued crash, saying the golf pro's lawyer had handed over the basics—license, proof of insurance, etc.—but offered absolutely nothing more, least of all, any face time with investigators.

The announcement included the FHP's denial about the extent of its probe.

"Contrary to various media reports, the Florida Highway Patrol has not made any comments regarding the details of the ongoing crash investigation involving Tiger Woods as it related to medical information, or any other aspect of this investigation.

"The crash investigation is ongoing and charges are pending."

As for what, exactly, those pending charges may be—we can only hope Tiger is sitting down for this...

High-profile Florida criminal attorney Jose Baez tells E! News that Woods' seeming refusal to speak with FHP troopers could result in several misdemeanor charges, including obstruction of justice, resisting arrest without violence, criminal mischief and possibly even driving under the influence. (While authorities initially said that there was no sign of alcohol or drugs at the scene, with no one talking and the investigation still open, nothing has been officially ruled out.)

And for all those concerned, sports-loving citizens thinking that list seems like overkill, well, blame the finer points of Florida law. Per Baez, citizens are not allowed to invoke their right to counsel during a traffic accident investigation, hence the possible obstruction of justice charge.

Resisting arrest without violence is simply legal speak for not obeying the order of an officer and does not require any dramatic, Ford Bronco-powered attempts at evasion—in fact, simply continuing to turn away the troopers who now arrive like clockwork to interview Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren, could be enough to warrant that charge.

Speaking of Woods' possibly heroic other half, should there have been any preaccident domestic spat, as has been speculated (granted, a very unlikely scenario, given the widespread reluctance of anyone to come forward), she too could face charges.

"She would be facing felony charges at that point because the golf club could be a deadly weapon, and then you're looking at a minimum of three years in prison," Baez said. "The stakes get raised much higher."

Not that it's expected to come to that.

"In all likelihood, I don't think they're going to have a case because they don't have anyone willing to talk," Baez said. "Another obstruction charge could be based on [Woods'] unwillingness to talk about what his wife has done, but then you get into very muddy waters. I can't see them moving forward on such a thing."

As for how Tiger and Elin are holding up—they may not be talking, but the rest of the Woods clan apparently failed to receive the keep-shut memo.

"They're fine," a family member tells E! News.

Appearance-canceling injuries aside, that is.

—Additional reporting by Ashley Fultz

________

Hopefully it won't come to this, but we have to admit, both Tiger and Elin would make for some good-looking additions to our Mug-Shot Mania gallery.

Latest News