Tweet
Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson was charged with criminal recklessness Wednesday following last week's confrontation outside a strip club.
Jackson was charged with the felony and misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct by the Marion County prosecutor five days after hew fought with another group of men at the club.
Teammates Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter were also at the club, but were not charged.
Jackson was hit by a car, and police say he fired a gun in the air at least five times. He originally told police he was punched, but later said he was not, prosecutors said.
On Tuesday, Jackson apologized for the fight, saying he was "happy to be alive." His comments came hours after police arrested another man on several charges in connection with the fight.
Jackson was expected to turn himself in Wednesday or Thursday, prosecutors said. He was scheduled to be in court Thursday morning to face the charges. The felony count carries a prison term of six months to three years.
The Pacers said they hope for a quick resolution to the case through the judicial system.
"As we have stated, we regret the incident," the team statement said. "The Pacers are strong advocates of anti-violence campaigns as they have been throughout the franchise's history."
"We're monitoring the situation and we'll be doing our own investigation," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said. "But until we get all the facts, I think it would be inappropriate to comment on it."
In September 2005, a judge in Michigan ordered Jackson to serve a year's probation for his role in the brawl with Detroit Pistons fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004. But the court ordered him to serve an extra year of probation because he did not complete the terms of his sentence, prosecutors in Michigan said.
Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Jackson could be ordered to serve three months in jail if authorities there determine the new charges violate his probation.
Police on Tuesday charged Deon Willford, 23, in the fight. He faces felony counts of criminal recklessness and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.
Willford drove a car that hit Jackson, sending him tumbling over the hood, police Sgt. Matthew Mount said. Police said Jackson fired a gun in the air during the fight about 3 a.m.
"Firing the shots in the air at that point is criminal recklessness," Brizzi said. "Those bullets, once they come up, have to come down, and they come down at least 90 miles per hour, and they do absolutely have the ability to take someone's life."
Brizzi said between 30 and 35 people were in the parking lot.
Jackson returned to training camp Tuesday with stitches in his lip and scrapes and bruises. Prosecutors say the injuries were all caused by the car hitting him.
Officers said they found a small amount of marijuana in the passenger-side door of point guard Tinsley's car. But no arrests were made at the time because there were three others in Tinsley's car and police could not determine who had the marijuana, authorities said.
None of the other players were charged but were listed as witnesses for the prosecution.
Tinsley and Hunter told investigators they heard gunshots, but did not see who was shooting, according to an Indianapolis police report.
Daniels told police he saw Jackson struck by a car, but was not sure if he heard any gunshots.
Jackson returned to the Pacers' training camp on Tuesday with stitches in his lip and other scrapes and bruises. The Pacers were to open the preseason Wednesday night against the New Jersey Nets, but Jackson was not expected to play.
In charging information, prosecutors said Jackson kicked a man who police said has a deformed arm. Jackson told police that the man, Quentin Willford, started the brawl.
Another man, Raymel Mattox, was charged with misdemeanor counts of battery, disorderly conduct and marijuana possession. Police say he also hit Quentin Willford.
Source: AP
Jackson was charged with the felony and misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct by the Marion County prosecutor five days after hew fought with another group of men at the club.
Teammates Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter were also at the club, but were not charged.
Jackson was hit by a car, and police say he fired a gun in the air at least five times. He originally told police he was punched, but later said he was not, prosecutors said.
On Tuesday, Jackson apologized for the fight, saying he was "happy to be alive." His comments came hours after police arrested another man on several charges in connection with the fight.
Jackson was expected to turn himself in Wednesday or Thursday, prosecutors said. He was scheduled to be in court Thursday morning to face the charges. The felony count carries a prison term of six months to three years.
The Pacers said they hope for a quick resolution to the case through the judicial system.
"As we have stated, we regret the incident," the team statement said. "The Pacers are strong advocates of anti-violence campaigns as they have been throughout the franchise's history."
"We're monitoring the situation and we'll be doing our own investigation," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said. "But until we get all the facts, I think it would be inappropriate to comment on it."
In September 2005, a judge in Michigan ordered Jackson to serve a year's probation for his role in the brawl with Detroit Pistons fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004. But the court ordered him to serve an extra year of probation because he did not complete the terms of his sentence, prosecutors in Michigan said.
Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Jackson could be ordered to serve three months in jail if authorities there determine the new charges violate his probation.
Police on Tuesday charged Deon Willford, 23, in the fight. He faces felony counts of criminal recklessness and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.
Willford drove a car that hit Jackson, sending him tumbling over the hood, police Sgt. Matthew Mount said. Police said Jackson fired a gun in the air during the fight about 3 a.m.
"Firing the shots in the air at that point is criminal recklessness," Brizzi said. "Those bullets, once they come up, have to come down, and they come down at least 90 miles per hour, and they do absolutely have the ability to take someone's life."
Brizzi said between 30 and 35 people were in the parking lot.
Jackson returned to training camp Tuesday with stitches in his lip and scrapes and bruises. Prosecutors say the injuries were all caused by the car hitting him.
Officers said they found a small amount of marijuana in the passenger-side door of point guard Tinsley's car. But no arrests were made at the time because there were three others in Tinsley's car and police could not determine who had the marijuana, authorities said.
None of the other players were charged but were listed as witnesses for the prosecution.
Tinsley and Hunter told investigators they heard gunshots, but did not see who was shooting, according to an Indianapolis police report.
Daniels told police he saw Jackson struck by a car, but was not sure if he heard any gunshots.
Jackson returned to the Pacers' training camp on Tuesday with stitches in his lip and other scrapes and bruises. The Pacers were to open the preseason Wednesday night against the New Jersey Nets, but Jackson was not expected to play.
In charging information, prosecutors said Jackson kicked a man who police said has a deformed arm. Jackson told police that the man, Quentin Willford, started the brawl.
Another man, Raymel Mattox, was charged with misdemeanor counts of battery, disorderly conduct and marijuana possession. Police say he also hit Quentin Willford.
Source: AP