Report: Ex-NBA player Javaris Crittenton has prison sentence from 2011 homicide modified, could be released

Former NBA player and Georgia Tech standout Javaris Crittenton was issued a new sentence from a 2011 homicide that could result in his being released from prison, though the Fulton County District Attorney is seeking for the new sentence to be rescinded, according to a report.

WSB-TV reported that Crittenton's attorney, Brian Steel, confirmed the news that Crittenton was resentenced Thursday. Crittenton, now 35, had originally been sentenced in 2015 to 23 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

According to WSB-TV, a senior district attorney at the Fulton County District Attorney’s office consented to the new sentence in the case, which stipulates for Crittenton's immediate release. The Fulton County District Attorney’s office said District Attorney Fani Willis was unaware of the sentence modification hearing until a reporter called the office to inquire about it. Per WSB-TV, the district attorney's office said Willis briefly served as a defense attorney for Crittenton, creating a legal conflict in the matter.

WSB-TV reported that the district attorney's office filed a motion Thursday to rescind the new sentence and asked for a special prosecutor to be appointed to the case.

As part of the new sentence, Crittenton will be placed on intensive probation for the first five years after his release, when he will have to wear a monitoring device at all times, per WSB-TV. He will also face a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Crittenton will have 10 years of prison time commuted and will be subject to special conditions, including 7,200 hours of community service during the first 10 years of probation.

"As part of the plea negotiation, Mr. Crittenton, by and through undersigned counsel, and the State of Georgia, by and through the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, agreed to a sentence modification if Mr. Crittenton met several criteria," the sentence modification document, obtained by WSB-TV, reads. "(1) served at least five years; (2) maintain overall positive attitude and behavior while in prison; (3) commit to community service to encourage young people to resist gang affiliation; and (4) commit to speaking out about the consequences of violent behavior. Mr. Crittenton has satisfied these criteria."

Who is Javaris Crittenton?

Prosecutors said Crittenton was aiming for a man who had robbed him days before the August 2011 shooting for which he went to prison, but allegedly shot Julian Jones, an Atlanta mother of four who was 22, instead. According to WSB-TV, Jones' mother spoke at the sentence modification hearing to express vehement opposition to the new sentence.

While he was out on bond from the 2011 incident, Crittenton also was arrested in January 2014 on drug charges.

Crittenton was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007 and has also played for the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies. He was suspended in 2010 for pulling a gun in the Wizards' locker room. He appeared in 113 games in his NBA career, averaging 5.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

What happened during the gun incident in December 2009 with the Washington Wizards?

Former Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said in 2018 that the 2009 event, in which Arenas brought out four guns and Crittenton brandished his own pistol in a confrontation, "had nothing to do with gambling debts." Arenas said it was traced to a card game on a team plane after Crittenton lost on a hand won by teammate JaVale McGee.

According to Arenas, he told Crittenoton he would "burn your car, while you’re in it," to which Crittenton responded: "Well, I’ll just shoot you then." Arenas then said he would bring the guns so that Crittenton could choose one to do it.

On Dec. 21, 2009, Arenas said he brought four unloaded guns and laid them out inside the Wizards locker room. Arenas said Crittenton responded by pulling his own gun, which Arenas said was loaded. Both were suspended the rest of the 2009-10 season and each faced criminal charges in Washington.

Contributing: A.J. Perez; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-NBA player Javaris Crittenton may be released from prison early