Jail time for JR

[MHZ]

Nuggets' Smith to serve 30 days in fatal accident
Denver Post staff and wire reports

MILLSTONE, N.J. — Nuggets guard J.R. Smith has been sentenced to 90 days in jail Tuesday night for causing an auto accident in June 2007 that killed his friend. Smith will likely end up serving only 30.

Municipal Judge Debra J. Gelson suspended 60 days of the sentence providing Smith performs 500 hours of community service consisting of visiting sick children at hospitals. He also must pay a $500 fine plus $39 court costs, according to the Asbury Park Press.

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_12727481

[The Rebel]

Less then I thought it would be, but then Stallworth got the same with a DUI involved, so no real surprise. Hopefully this whole deal continues to open JRs eyes, and he becomes a better person for it.

[DaFan334]

Should be OK if its just 30 days and it starts right now. Work your ass off in there and come out as though you have been training for the season the entire time. Might be good for the kid.

[Canucklehead]

Well if it isn't more proof that he's a full fledged moron. Can we please get that deal done now I want to unload Bosh so I can get key players like JR Smith and K-Mart

Sorry I couldn't help myself.

[wd707]

I dont understand. I remember this story he ran a stop sign and killed someone right? How the hell did he avoid YEARS in prison? This makes me sick. Call me a troll or whatever but ANY person that kills an INNOCENT person by being a jackass and running red lights or stop signs needs to be sitting in JAIL for a long, long time.

[almost famous]

Sadly, that's not the way the law works. He got what any American would have got in that situation... Any American with millions to spend on an attorney and a well-known face to show the kiddies that is...

JR is an idiot, that's a given, but he's not a bad kid.... But GOD he's an idiot...... He really is an idiot......

[The Rebel]

I dont understand. I remember this story he ran a stop sign and killed someone right? How the hell did he avoid YEARS in prison? This makes me sick. Call me a troll or whatever but ANY person that kills an INNOCENT person by being a jackass and running red lights or stop signs needs to be sitting in JAIL for a long, long time.

Good luck with that, these types of accidents happen all the time, and very few of the drivers get any real time. Most may get around 90 days in jail with Jrs driving history, although there have been cases where someone at fault in an accident where someone else dies gets no jail time. Last I heard the family of the Kid did not even want JR to do jail time.

Sadly, that's not the way the law works. He got what any American would have got in that situation... Any American with millions to spend on an attorney and a well-known face to show the kiddies that is...

JR is an idiot, that's a given, but he's not a bad kid.... But GOD he's an idiot...... He really is an idiot......

How do you explain the hundreds of other people every year that get little to no jail time in accidents like this. Fact of the matter is that I expected JR to be made an example of, because he did not try to hire a ton of lawyers and fight through a trial, this was less then I expected because of that, but this idea that because he is known and has money, he got off easy is just plain ignorant.

[Teens On Acid]

to think JR got of easy is ridiculous. he has to wake up every day with this event.
you'd think everyone posting on RGM is a friggin saint.

every day. best friend. my fault.

do we even need a discussion?

[almost famous]

It's not unheard of for a guy to get a short term in jail for vehicular manslaughter, but 30 days is not normal. That's all I'm saying.

Seeing that he did break the law, even though it was merely an infraction, his recklessness did result in a death of another person. He had no intent. Therefore, the most they can charge him for is a misdemeanor manslaughter charge. That's the loophole I don't like, but in this case, it worked out for us.

All I'm saying is that a normal person would be looking at 3-6 months if their community service hours weren't so valuable.

He's still liable for civil charges though.

[Nuggninja]

It's not unheard of for a guy to get a short term in jail for vehicular manslaughter, but 30 days is not normal. That's all I'm saying.

Seeing that he did break the law, even though it was merely an infraction, his recklessness did result in a death of another person. He had no intent. Therefore, the most they can charge him for is a misdemeanor manslaughter charge. That's the loophole I don't like, but in this case, it worked out for us.

All I'm saying is that a normal person would be looking at 3-6 months if their community service hours weren't so valuable.

He's still liable for civil charges though.

He wasn't charged with manslaughter, the grand jury did not indict him. He just had several traffic charges against him, he plead guilty to reckless driving.

And the family has already filed a wrongful death suit:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4298594

[RRFB]

Man, the Jr hate on these boards is insane (check the thread on the GB). It's worse than the Melo hate of a year ago.

Anyway, I've heard a lot of the players (and even Karl, I think) give Jr props for turning the corner maturity wise since the accident, and especially since the birth of his first son. But if anything, I still think this could do a little good for him, as long as he doesn't miss any of the season.

[pickaxe]

You can't be a martyr for running stop signs. I think the loss of one of his best friends is punishment enough (not that anyone should wish for that, ever), but sometimes these things take care of themselves in unfortunate ways.

There should be a punishment with an opt-out clause stating if JR is ever caught running a stop sign again he does have to serve a multi-decade sentence.