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Man accused of throwing chair during Palace brawl pleads no contest
ap ^ | 3-29-05 | Sarah Karush

Posted on 03/29/2005 8:39:44 AM PST by Dan from Michigan

Man accused of throwing chair during Palace brawl pleads no contest

3/29/2005, 10:48 a.m. ET
By SARAH KARUSH
The Associated Press

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A fan charged with throwing a chair during one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history pleaded no contest Tuesday to one count of felony assault and one count of misdemeanor assault and battery.

Bryant Jackson was the only one of the 13 Indiana Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans charged with a felony for their alleged role in the Nov. 19 melee at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Oakland County Circuit Judge Rae Lee Chabot indicated that she would sentence Jackson to probation or up to 90 days in jail on May 3.

Chabot said she would be listening for signs of remorse at Jackson's sentencing hearing, and that would play a role in whether Jackson would serve jail time. The judge said she believes that events at The Palace were triggered by a "mob mentality."

Assistant county prosecutor Paul Walton, however, said his office would request a sentence of one year in jail. Walton said the mob mentality didn't excuse Jackson's actions.

"These are adults," he said. "They should be able to control themselves. If they can't, they should be in jail."

Jackson and his attorney, Christopher McGrath, declined to comment after the hearing.

Jackson, a 37-year-old resident of Genesee County's Mundy Township, is accused of dislodging a chair and heaving it over his head, hitting several people. He also is accused of throwing a drink at the Pacers as they left the court area.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.

A motion hearing is scheduled in district court in Rochester Hills for April 8 in the cases of the five Pacers — Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson, Anthony Johnson and David Harrison — and for four of the fans.

Three other fans were sentenced to probation earlier this month on charges of walking on a court or throwing objects.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: brawl; chair; pacers; palace; pistons

1 posted on 03/29/2005 8:39:54 AM PST by Dan from Michigan
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To: Dan from Michigan

He could challenge Bobby Knight to a chair-throwing contest.


2 posted on 03/29/2005 8:41:13 AM PST by dfwgator (It's sad that the news media treats Michael Jackson better than our military.)
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To: Dan from Michigan
Man accused of throwing chair during Palace brawl pleads no contest

My first thought was, "Those Royals sure ain't what they used to be."

3 posted on 03/29/2005 8:50:18 AM PST by martin_fierro (Fierro-san)
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To: dfwgator

If I were the judge, I wouldn't accept "no contest."


4 posted on 03/29/2005 8:50:34 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

No contest means guilty for all intents and purposes.


5 posted on 03/29/2005 8:52:02 AM PST by Dan from Michigan ("Mama, take this judgeship off of Greer, he can't use it, anymore")
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To: martin_fierro; Thinkin' Gal; aculeus; general_re; Happygal; BlueLancer; Poohbah; Petronski; ...
.
Now this is a Palace brawl, though somewhat lopsided.
6 posted on 03/29/2005 8:57:13 AM PST by dighton
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To: Dan from Michigan

So I've been informed. Why not guilty, then ?


7 posted on 03/29/2005 9:01:17 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Dan from Michigan
Assistant county prosecutor Paul Walton, however, said his office would request a sentence of one year in jail. Walton said the mob mentality didn't excuse Jackson's actions. "These are adults," he said. "They should be able to control themselves. If they can't, they should be in jail."

Unless he's also made to pay the bill for that year in jail, I'd rather the penalty be a stiff fine for the SOB. $10,000 ought to be a sufficient deterrent. That, plus court costs and any actual damages.

8 posted on 03/29/2005 9:08:50 AM PST by newgeezer (Just my opinion, of course. Your mileage may vary.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
So I've been informed. Why not guilty, then ?

A plea of nolo contendre cannot be used, in subsequent civil litigation, as evidence against the defendant. If someone pleads guilty, then that admission of responsibility can be entered into evidence and it's pretty persuasive. The nolo plea is, for criminal purposes, indistinguishable from a guilty plea but for civil purposes it's completely different.

A simplified example: Hank Hothead takes a swing at Vince Victim, and breaks Vince's nose. That then requires reconstructive surgery. Now, the State prosecutes Hank for assault & battery - the crime (theoretically) hurts all members of society. Hank has a choice; he can plead guilty or he can plead nolo contendre.

After the criminal trial is over, Vince sues Hank. This isn't a double jeopardy problem - jeopardy only generally attaches when the defendant's liberty is at risk and no civil judgement can take liberty. Vince can sue Hank because Hank committed the tort of assualt, injuring Vince specifically. If Hank plead nolo in the criminal case, Vince's attorney would have to collect enough evidence to prove that Hank did, indeed, assualt Vince and that that assault caused the injuries. With a guilty plea, that evidence is all wrapped up neatly with a bow on it in the record of Hank's criminal trial. With a nolo plea, it takes more work.

Disclaimer: IANAL, YMMV, etc.

9 posted on 03/29/2005 5:11:58 PM PST by Kretek
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To: Kretek

What's happened court-wise to any of the basketball team players who started the riot?


10 posted on 03/29/2005 5:18:48 PM PST by flaglady47 (O)
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To: Kretek

Thank you. I guess I knew that. The reactionary in me asked the prior question.


11 posted on 03/29/2005 5:39:19 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Dan from Michigan

Does anyone else find it unbelievable that none of the players were charged with a felony. Artest attacked someone completely unrelated to the incident


12 posted on 03/29/2005 5:44:01 PM PST by Nov3 ("This is the best election night in history." --DNC chair Terry McAuliffe Nov. 2,2004 8p.m.)
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To: flaglady47
What's happened court-wise to any of the basketball team players who started the riot?

According to the Detroit News, they have a motion hearing on 8 April and a pre-trial hearing on 22 April.

13 posted on 03/29/2005 8:13:47 PM PST by Kretek
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Thank you. I guess I knew that. The reactionary in me asked the prior question.

No problem, glad to be of assistance.

14 posted on 03/29/2005 8:15:17 PM PST by Kretek
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