J.R. Smith going to jail

From Yahoo Sports:

MILLSTONE, N.J. (AP)—A judge sentenced Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith(notes) to 90 days in jail Tuesday night for causing an auto accident that killed his friend, though 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.

Smith, who grew up in this town about 20 miles east of Trenton, was taken to county jail Tuesday night to begin serving his sentence.

“He’s 23 years old; he’s a tough kid and he’s going to do these four weeks and come out a better person,” said Kevin Hextall, an attorney representing Smith.

Gelson also suspended Smith’s license for two years, to begin next March after Smith’s current license suspension expires.

Smith, who didn’t comment after the sentencing, expressed regret at causing the accident that killed his friend, 21-year-old Andre Bell of East Orange, in June 2007.

“It’s been unbearable to deal with,” he said to the court. “I am deeply sorry. I never intended for this to happen. It tears me up that it went down like that.”

Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien released a statement Tuesday night.

“We will continue to support J.R. during this difficult period and will have no further comment at this time,” he said.

Smith, who starred at Lakewood High School and St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, admitted driving an SUV through a stop sign and colliding with a car in Millstone Township, about 20 miles east of Trenton, in June 2007. Bell later died from his injuries, and another passenger in the SUV and a woman driving the car were injured but recovered.

Smith suffered scratches and an injury to his left shoulder.

Prosecutor Richard Kelly said Tuesday the data recorder in Smith’s vehicle showed he was driving 67 miles per hour in a spot where the speed limit was 35 mph. Both Smith and Bell were ejected from the vehicle after impact.

A grand jury declined to indict Smith, but he faced five motor vehicle violations and pleaded guilty to reckless driving.

Gelson focused on Smith’s checkered driving record in rejecting Hextall’s request to impose a fine but not jail time. She cited court filings that showed that Smith had 28 points on his license in 2005 that included four speeding tickets.

She also gave weight to Smith’s two speeding tickets in Colorado since the accident, which she termed “disturbing,” and said letting Smith off without jail time would send the wrong message.

“There has to be deterrence,” Gelson said. “Young people look up to Mr. Smith; he’s a role model. What would that say to them? That’s it’s OK to speed?”

Bell’s family has filed a wrongful death suit against Smith. Attorney Harvey Grossman, representing the family, said discussions are under way.

Bell’s mother, Wanda, and his brother attended the hearing but did not comment afterward. Hextall read from a letter Wanda Bell wrote last fall in which she called Smith “a beautiful young man” who was like a brother to her son.

Of the lawsuit negotiations, Hextall said Smith “has every intention of trying to resolve this matter.”

Smith, a 6-foot-6 guard, recently finished his fifth NBA season and averaged 15 points per game for Denver.

At least he's not going to miss any games next season, unless the league suspends him.

I expect either the Nuggets or the league will hand down a suspension of some sort. Hopefully he's learned a lesson from the whole situation, but what a tough way to learn it.

Bell’s family has filed a wrongful death suit against Smith. Attorney Harvey Grossman, representing the family, said discussions are under way.

Bell’s mother, Wanda, and his brother attended the hearing but did not comment afterward. Hextall read from a letter Wanda Bell wrote last fall in which she called Smith “a beautiful young man” who was like a brother to her son.

A little odd to say the least.

Didn't he get suspended right after it happened? If so, I don't know why he would get suspended now. "Beautiful young man" - sounds like its a mistranslation from a foreign language. Pretty odd.

He might have been, now that you mention it. I can't recall offhand.

Just when I was going to post this, you were 1st..

I think it's actually good thing for him. He's had attitude problems all the time, maybe this can turn things around. Although it reminds Stallworth's incident a bit.. On the other hand, Smith has changed his attitude a bit lately, especially after Billups' arrival. Would be pretty cool to see one of my favourite players finally doing something to become at least a star. He has the talent, but accidents like this certainly don't help in that regard.

Tough sentence for him but probably well deserving, hopefully it'll be a valuable lesson for him so that he wont commit any more mistakes in the future.

I expect either the Nuggets or the league will hand down a suspension of some sort. Hopefully he's learned a lesson from the whole situation, but what a tough way to learn it.

Bell’s family has filed a wrongful death suit against Smith. Attorney Harvey Grossman, representing the family, said discussions are under way.

Bell’s mother, Wanda, and his brother attended the hearing but did not comment afterward. Hextall read from a letter Wanda Bell wrote last fall in which she called Smith “a beautiful young man” who was like a brother to her son.

A little odd to say the least.

I think Bell and Smith are really close friends, but since Smith is the one responsible for Bell's death, Bell's family have no choice but to, or I might say "needed" to, file a case against JR

That's the thing, do they really "need" to? Don't get me wrong, I might feel exactly the same way in their position but if they still feel he's a "beautiful person", they can't feel too vindictive so why are they after the proverbial "pound of flesh"?

At least he's not going to miss any games next season, unless the league suspends him.

this is what i think of when people die

At least he's not going to miss any games next season, unless the league suspends him.

this is what i think of when people die

yeah thank God he won't miss any games, now THAT would be a tragedy.

Doesn't the whole Nuggets starting five have a record lol

Doesn't the whole Nuggets starting five have a record lol

the new jailblazers?

Thuggets

Doesn't the whole Nuggets starting five have a record lol

I don't think Chauncey Billups or Nene have, unless there are incidents I'm forgetting.

That's just sad and stupid. 67 miles in 35 miles zone? Ignoring a stop sign? Killing your friend? Awww... I feel so sorry for his friend. His sentence and 2 years of driving suspension just don't sound enough to me. I hope at least he realizes what he has done. Everyone can make a mistake but learning from a mistake isn't something that everyone can do.

I wonder how many skinny white boys he'll ass-rape.

I wonder how many skinny white boys he'll ass-rape.

he'll prolly start with you

Doesn't the whole Nuggets starting five have a record lol

the new jailblazers?

^ I don't get it.

^ I don't get it.

What does the Jailblazers or Thuggets have to do with practice?

haha Thuggets nice

You probably don't even get it yourself. You're making it seem otherwise to look "cool" and shite.

...linked the wrong picture. damn. i do like how my least correct, nonsubstantive post generated more debate than my usual ones.