Charges handed down on Pacer players

[Guest Cerebus]

ESPN:

 

Five Indiana Pacers players and seven Detroit Pistons fans were charged Wednesday in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history -- a melee last month that broke out on the basketball court and spread to the stands.

 

NBA players Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, David Harrison and Anthony Johnson were all charged with one count of assault and battery, a misdemeanor that could bring three months in jail and a $500 fine. Jermaine O'Neal was charged with two counts of assault and battery.

 

The five fans were charged with the same offenses. One of them, Bryant Jackson, 35, was also charged with felony assault for allegedly hurling a chair. That crime is punishable by up to four years in prison, but he could get even more time because he has prior criminal convictions.

 

Two other fans were charged with violating a local ordinance that prohibits fans from entering the court.

 

Other than Jackson, those involved will not likely face jail time if they have clean records.

 

"Typically someone who has no prior record and due to the fact there were no extenuating injuries, they likely would face probations, fines and costs," said prosecutor David Gorcyca.

 

Now that arrest warrants have been issued, the prosecutor said the players and fans charged are required to turn themselves in. He said some of the accused or their attorneys contacted his office earlier and said they would do so.

 

The fight broke out Nov. 19 during a game against the Detroit Pistons after an on-court dispute over a foul. A fan tossed a drink at Artest, who then charged into the stands and began beating a man he thought had done it.

 

Among the fans charged was John Green, the man accused of throwing the cup.

 

"John Green ... in my mind single-handedly incited this whole interaction between the fans and players and probably is the one that's most culpable," Gorcyca said.

 

The fans charged also included Detroit Pistons star Ben Wallace's brother, David, of Selma, Ala., was in town to watch the game.

 

After Artest climbed into the stands, Jackson joined him and threw punches at fans, who punched back. O'Neal hit a fan who ran onto the court. Gorcyca said there was no evidence that any Pistons players threw punches during the melee.

 

Jackson's lawyer, James Burdick, said the basketball player was defending himself. "The problem is this: a few crazed drunken fans who created a chaotic situation," Burdick said. "Steve responded in a way that he thought was necessary to protect himself and protect his friends."

 

Harrison's attorney, Walter Piszczatowski, said the athlete was acting as a "peacekeeper."

 

"He was trying to make sure everybody was safe," he said.

 

Pacers chief executive Donnie Walsh said the team could not comment. "In the meantime, we will continue to support our players in every possible way for the duration of these proceedings and afterward," he said.

 

NBA Commissioner David Stern has suspended Artest for the rest of the season, Jackson for 30 games and O'Neal for 25. Six other players -- including four members of the Pistons -- received shorter suspensions.

 

The players' union is appealing the suspensions of Artest, Jackson and O'Neal, and a grievance hearing is scheduled for Thursday in New York.

 

Gorcyca said investigators are trying to identify all the fans who entered the court during the fight or dumped drinks and debris on players. More people could be charged, he said.

 

Not much else to say, except you can see how O'Neal "defended himself" by looking at my avatar.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Good, Artest definately deserved criminal charges for attacking the wrong fan.

[alfdogg 0]

He's lucky he didn't get more than he did, too. He only got charged for what he did to the geek in the stands.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I'm curious as to how they found the chair thrower. I've never seen him on any of the replays of the fight.

[alfdogg 0]

They showed the charges being announced on FOX this afternoon form a Michigan court, along with more videos that they'd compiled. They got a shot of his face and a faraway shot of him throwing the chair as well.

 

My uncle told me at work that he heard when the cops went to arrest him, he sicked his dog on them.

[Guest Cerebus]

They showed the charges being announced on FOX this afternoon form a Michigan court, along with more videos that they'd compiled.  They got a shot of his face and a faraway shot of him throwing the chair as well.

 

My uncle told me at work that he heard when the cops went to arrest him, he sicked his dog on them.

That'll go over well.

 

Did anyone see PTI when Kornheiser was John "Cupslinger" Green for his roleplaying? Fucking gold.

[Guest El Satanico]

Nothing will come of this, other than the chair thrower that is.

[Guest Cerebus]

Because Artest has a history of violence and bad temper the ESPN legal analyst said there is a possiblity of jail time, or at least a suspended sentance, for Artest.

[alfdogg 0]

He has a criminal history of violence?

[Guest Brian]

I'm curious as to how they found the chair thrower. I've never seen him on any of the replays of the fight.

ESPN was highlighting it. You could seen the guy loosening his chair and making a quick entrance as it was thrown. I'm not sure if he's was actually caught in the act, but I remember those two views.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Please tell me at least one Pacer is going to hire Johnny Cochran?!

[bobobrazil1984 0]

my only real concern was that they were gonna come down on one side (players or fans) and let the other side off... but they charged em all, that's good.

[Guest Cerebus]

He has a criminal history of violence?

The judge doesn't just take in criminal histories of violence. Obviously, Artest has a bad temper on and off the court, that's going to be an issue.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

The most Artest could get for jailtime is 3 months. He'll probably be hit with a load of community service. Have him clean up the highway.

[cabbageboy 0]

This is the definition of a waste of time and money. None of these guys will ever see jail time (well maybe the couple of fans) so I don't see much point in this. I guess it's a token "Yeah we gotta arrest somebody" thing.