SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A California judge sentenced Sacramento Kings basketball player Ron Artest on Thursday to what is effectively 10 days in a work release program and 100 hours of community service after a plea deal on a domestic violence charge, his lawyer said.

Artest, 27, was arrested in March at his home in Loomis, California, a suburb of the state capital Sacramento, charged with domestic violence against his wife.

He pled no contest in Placer Superior Court in Sacramento to one count of domestic violence and sentenced formally to 20 days in jail, of which 10 days were stayed. Under the ruling, instead of time behind bars Artest will be able serve instead for 10 days in a work release program, and provide 100 hours of community service, his attorney William Portanova said.

"He has the power to turn this process into a positive force for his life," Portanova said.

The 6-foot, 7-inch (20.1-metre) defensive star, who weighs some 260 pounds (118 kg), must also undergo substantial counseling and anger management classes.

Artest was involved in one of the most notorious brawls in U.S. sports history in 2004 as a player with the Indiana Pacers. He lost about $5 million in earnings for a 73-game suspension after a fight that spread into the spectator stands.


OK, Solomon, let's hear your thoughts...I'm sure there are plenty...:lol:

Well, I am not Solomon...:lol: But let me say this, unfortunately, the law in California is such that a first time offense for domestic violence allows a judge to sentence anyone who is guilty of domestic violence to either probation or at the most ten days in jail. Now, if the jail is overcrowded, as they usually are, that really means only four or five days in jail. The judicial system wants to see offenders get treated for their problem rather than throw them in jail. Hence, anger management therapy or counseling and usually community service.

Hi Irene! :wave: I still think it's a crummy law, but hopefully he'll learn his lesson. Seeing as he is a notorious hothead like our friend Alec Baldwin, I doubt it. :mad:

The nut job deserves life in prison.

Hi Irene! :wave: I still think it's a crummy law, but hopefully he'll learn his lesson. Seeing as he is a notorious hothead like our friend Alec Baldwin, I doubt it. :mad:
I hear ya. I mean, I don't agree with the law...it must be changed! Alec is definitely in need of therapy. His daughter will definitely need it after what she is going through.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A California judge sentenced Sacramento Kings basketball player Ron Artest on Thursday to what is effectively 10 days in a work release program and 100 hours of community service after a plea deal on a domestic violence charge, his lawyer said.

Artest, 27, was arrested in March at his home in Loomis, California, a suburb of the state capital Sacramento, charged with domestic violence against his wife.

He pled no contest in Placer Superior Court in Sacramento to one count of domestic violence and sentenced formally to 20 days in jail, of which 10 days were stayed. Under the ruling, instead of time behind bars Artest will be able serve instead for 10 days in a work release program, and provide 100 hours of community service, his attorney William Portanova said.

"He has the power to turn this process into a positive force for his life," Portanova said.

The 6-foot, 7-inch (20.1-metre) defensive star, who weighs some 260 pounds (118 kg), must also undergo substantial counseling and anger management classes.

Artest was involved in one of the most notorious brawls in U.S. sports history in 2004 as a player with the Indiana Pacers. He lost about $5 million in earnings for a 73-game suspension after a fight that spread into the spectator stands.


OK, Solomon, let's hear your thoughts...I'm sure there are plenty...:lol:



Well I guess the Lakers won't be interested in him now-lol

Well I guess the Lakers won't be interested in him now-lol
If anyone can handle ron artest it'll be phil jackson. (rodman)