Former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Javaris Crittenton has been resentenced to 20 years in prison, including 10 years to serve and credit for time already served since his arrest and conviction, for the 2011 shooting death of Julian Jones, a mother of four. Crittenton was originally sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2015 after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. However, he was resentenced on Thursday, which could result in his immediate release from prison.
Conditions of New Sentence
The new sentence stipulates that Crittenton will have close to a decade on probation and wear a monitoring device at all times during the first five years of probation. He must also face a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. as part of his intensive probationary period. Moreover, Crittenton will have 10 years of prison time commuted but 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, Crittenton agreed to meet several criteria, including serving at least five years in prison, maintaining an overall positive attitude and behavior while incarcerated, committing to community service aimed at encouraging young people to resist gang affiliation, and speaking out about the consequences of violent behavior. Crittenton has satisfied these criteria according to the sentence modification document.
District Attorney’s Response
However, the new sentence has faced opposition from Julian Jones’ mother who spoke vehemently against it. Moreover, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office filed a motion on Friday asking for a judge to rescind the new sentence and appoint a special prosecutor to the case. The district attorney’s office claims that there is a legal conflict due to the fact that District Attorney Fani Willis had briefly represented Crittenton as a defense attorney.
History of Legal Troubles
Crittenton has a history of gun-related incidents, including a 2010 locker room incident with teammate Gilbert Arenas in which the two players pulled guns on each other. Both players were suspended and faced criminal charges. Furthermore, Crittenton was arrested on drug charges while out on bond for the 2011 incident.
Victim’s Family
Julian Jones’ boyfriend had been with her for nearly ten years and had planned to propose to her. Jones’ mother has since been raising two of her grandchildren following her daughter’s shooting death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, former NBA player Javaris Crittenton has been resentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2011 homicide of Julian Jones. While the new sentence allows for Crittenton’s immediate release from prison, there are additional special conditions, such as community service and probation, that he must fulfill. Julian Jones’ family continues to grieve over their loss while the district attorney’s office has filed a motion to rescind the new sentence.
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