Stephen Jackson agrees to plea deal on gun charge

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If judge accepts deal, Jackson to pay $5K fine, do community service

INDIANAPOLIS -- Stephen Jackson will admit to criminal recklessness in firing a gun outside a strip club and, if the plea agreement is accepted by a judge, pay a $5,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office said Monday.

In return, the Golden State Warriors player will have a one-year jail sentence suspended and a felony converted into a misdemeanor conviction, spokesman Matthew Symons said.

Jackson was traded from the Indiana Pacers to the Golden State Warriors in January, two months after the Indianapolis nightclub shooting. He is scheduled to plead guilty in Marion Superior Court on Wednesday. Last month, Judge Patricia J. Gifford granted a defense motion to delay the start of Jackson's trial to June 21.

"The judge will either accept it or not accept it. I would be inclined to believe she would accept it, but that would be speaking for her, so I can't do that definitively," Symons said of the plea agreement.

A telephone message seeking comment was left with Jackson's attorney, James Voyles, at his Indianapolis office.

Jackson, who was arrested with two other men outside the club last October, told police he fired shots in the air to try to break up a fight.

The original criminal recklessness charge carried a prison term of six months to three years.

In February, Deon Willford, who hit Jackson with a car, was convicted of felony battery in a bench trial and sentenced to two years in prison, two years on probation and 100 hours community service. The third man, Raymel Mattocks, pleaded guilty last month to possession of marijuana, was fined $1,000 and given a 60-day suspended sentence.

At the time of the fight, Jackson already was on probation for his role in a 2004 brawl between Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans. Jackson pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery charges in September 2005 for his role in the incident.</div>

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2908133

 

Well, this is good news. No jail time for Jax, if the judge accepts the plea. It's not final, though. But I liked what Jax brought to the team -- he was the reason GS won the Dallas series in the POs.

Sure, he's a bit crazy, we all know it. But he is the W's best defender, an intelligent passer who works wonders with Beans on the pick n' roll. And at times, he's their best 3pt shooter, as well. Lastly, he comes at a damn cheap clip ($6 mils) for what he brings.

If this works out, it will be great to have him back for two more years, IMO.

 

The guy isn't the brighest bulb in the world off the court and he's got the "thug/gangsta" label... but he sure saved this franchise by replacing Dun more than decently. He was a bit of a playoff hero too. Second best guy in the playoffs IMO right after Bdiddy himself. If Sjax can improve on finishing inside a little, stay more consistent in scoring averages, and reduce the turnovers he will be a one-time all-star material IMO (like a clif robinson or nick van exel or a Dale Davis). He does a few things that resemble what Joe Johnson and Mike Miller do for their teams, which is almost everything. We finally got a playmaking swingman that's quick and decently strong and can shoot. I love it! Makes me wish we gave up Dunleavy a lot sooner. The minute scouts start saying "Larry Bird" or "Dirk Nowitzki" without the size or athleticism, it's time to walk away and skip over that pick.

If we can get a power forward, the less duty Sjax has to do at that position at times. He's 6'8 and with long wingspan but he's no Shawn Marion with the hops and strength.

 

For what it's worth, it does up his trade value. But really, when you look at his production vs his salary, he's a good value.

 

Doesn't he still face violation of probation charges in MI due to the incident in Indiana? I know they were looking at it, was that resolved too?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think what we see now is what we're going to get from Jax. Hes 29 years old so I don't see him improving much more, though I'm very happy with what he brings as it is. He gives us a secondary player who can penetrate off the dribble and hes been great at setting up teammates off the dribble, especially off the pick and roll (averaged 4.6 apg with us). Hes also a guy who gets to the FT line a lot and converts at a good clip, he brings veteran savvy having won a championship and been in every possible situation in the NBA, he brings a tremendous amount of energy though it can sometimes hurt the team, and hes our best defender IMO. Hes also a good mismatch player since hes a legit 6'8 with a big wingspan, has pure SG skills but also solid in the post on smaller guards. Plus you have to like how he works the refs, even if he seems like a whiny idiot you have to admit he gets WAY more calls in the paint than Baron while usually getting less contact from the defense.

It seems like all of his former and current teammates love the guy and say hes the ultimate teammate. He gets a raelly bad reputation from the media but I guess all that matters is that the fans and his teammates know who he really is. I'm really glad hes on our team and IMO he is everything that Dunleavy was supposed to be (6'9ish player with legit SG skills, PG passing ability, can shoot or drive, etc.) but with much better defense.</div>

He is a bit older, but he's got a lot of skills where he could pull off a Sam Cassell. He's just got to be the same x-factor he was when nailing clutch shots or making a nice assist. I think he is capable of doing that. He could seriously make the all-star team once in his lifetime, in my mind. But then again, maybe that's my bias. I think he does a lot of things well, but he's just go to be more consistent in some of the things he's good at.

 

The league is likely to impose further sanctions -- though probably less than the 10-game minimum suspension mandated for violent felonies -- but any suspension now would not take effect until next season.

Sentencing for his Palace Brawl probation violation initially was delayed until his Indianapolis case was settled, but James Burdick, his Michigan-based attorney, said Monday the matter was resolved earlier this month.

At a June 6 hearing in Rochester Hills, Mich., Jackson was given 10 days of community service to be served at a Michigan farm beginning later this month. Burdick said Jackson also will work at Detroit guard Rip Hamilton's basketball camp in August.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...SPGK0QHFHG1.DTL

 

Update, it's official:

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Case resolved as Jackson pleads guilty in strip club fight

INDIANAPOLIS -- Stephen Jackson pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony count of criminal recklessness for firing a gun outside a strip club last fall and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

Stephen Jackson takes questions as he leaves a court hearing in Indianapolis. He will not go to jail and said he's relieved to have his criminal case behind him.

Misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct were dismissed as part of the agreement with prosecutors, and a judge added a year of probation to the Golden State Warrior player's sentence. If Jackson violates the conditions of his probation, he could be sentenced to nearly a year in prison.

Jackson said after the brief court appearance that he was happy to resolve the case.

"I'm ready to move on," the former Indiana Pacer told a small crowd of reporters. "I'm in a great city with a great new team, had a great year, as all y'all seen.

"I'm ready to experience another one."

Jackson was arrested Oct. 6 with two other men outside Indianapolis' Club Rio while he was still with the Pacers. He told police he fired shots in the air from his 9 mm pistol to try to break up a fight. The original criminal recklessness charge carried a prison term of six months to three years.

Jackson was traded from the Pacers to Golden State in January.

In February, Deon Willford, who hit Jackson with a car during the incident, was convicted of felony battery in a bench trial and sentenced to two years in prison, two years on probation and 100 hours of community service.

Willford was ordered by the judge to pay some of the costs of $1,400 worth of dental work Jackson needed after the fight. Jackson chipped some teeth and had to have plastic surgery on his lip.

Willford hit Jackson with his car after the fight started. Willford claimed self defense at his trial, testifying that Jackson was walking toward his car and pointing a gun at him.

Other witnesses said Jackson was walking away from Willford's car and had no weapon out when he was hit.

Jackson's athletic ability allowed him to leap out of the car's path and avoid more serious injuries, said David Wyser, chief trial deputy for the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, during Willford's trial.

The third man charged, Raymel Mattocks, pleaded guilty last month to possession of marijuana and was fined $1,000 and given a 60-day suspended sentence.

The fight started after Willford's cousin, Quentin "Fingers" Willford, got into an argument with a group of people who accompanied Jackson to the club.

That group includes current Pacers Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels, who were not charged. Both do face charges in a separate bar scuffle that police say happened on Feb. 6.

At the time, Jackson was on probation for his role in a brawl between Indiana Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans in 2004. Jackson pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery charges in September 2005 for his role in the 2004 brawl.

A Michigan judge had ruled that the Indiana charges constituted a violation of Jackson's probation. But Jackson's attorney, Jim Voyles, said the case was resolved last week, and Jackson will perform 10 days of community service.</div>

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2910402

Good news for those of us (like me) that want SJax to return and have another helpful season for this team.

 

I've always like Jackson as a player. He plays with great emotion and he really wants to win. It's hard to say but I think he'll improve next season with his decision making.