Former NFL star Darren Sharper has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman in Arizona . Sharper on Monday admitted to charges of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault arising from the 2013 Arizona case . He appeared in the Phoenix courtroom by video-conferencing from Los Angeles . Former NFL star Darren Sharper has been sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty . Sharper admitted to charges of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault arising from the 2013 case . Sharper also is expected to change his plea in person in Los Angeles on similar allegations . Similar hearings will follow in Las Vegas this week and in New Orleans in April . The Arizona and California cases , combined with others in Nevada and Louisiana , are likely to lead to a long prison sentence . In each state , Sharper was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting women when they were unconscious or otherwise unable to resist or consent . Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Warren Granville said Sharper will serve his time in federal custody and that the Louisiana case will be resolved through a federal court . In Arizona , Sharper admitted sexually assaulting one victim , though police say he drugged and sexually assaulted three women , at an apartment in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe in November . The 39-year-old was part of the New Orleans Saints side which won the NFL Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 . Authorities say a search of the Tempe apartment turned up a shot glass with a white residue that turned out to be zolpidem , and California investigators discovered that Sharper had a prescription for the drug . Last year , Sharper 's attorneys said their client did not make the drinks that authorities say he used to drug the women . One of the women told police she had n't had any alcohol that night until Sharper insisted she drink a shot . Another young woman said she had been drugged , then went to bed , locked her door and was n't attacked . The next day , one of the women confronted Sharper , who denied wrongdoing , according to the reports . The reports said Sharper was in Arizona to visit a woman who lived at the apartment . The two had met about a year earlier in Las Vegas . Sharper is a former defensive back for the New Orleans Saints and other teams .
Darren Sharper has admitted to charges of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault arising from the 2013 Arizona case . The former NFL star was charged with aggravated rape in a plea deal that included no jail time. Sharper admitted sexually assaulting one victim , though police say he drugged and sexually assaulted three women back in November . A search of his apartment turned up a shot glass with a white residue that turned out to be zolpidem .