Controversial Former Houston Rockets Player May Walk Away With No Jail Time as District Attorney Offers Plea Deal

Kevin Porter Jr., formerly of the Houston Rockets, is embroiled in a civil lawsuit, regarding allegations of domestic violence. The case came to light on 11th September, when the 23-year-old was arrested by the New York Police Department. Porter Jr. currently faces charges of second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. This controversy has significantly impacted the player’s burgeoning NBA career.

The District Attorney of New York City, however, has offered him a plea deal. If accepted, it would have huge implications on his jail time as well as his NBA career.

Details of the plea deal

On November 11th, Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested on charges of allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend, Kysre Gondrezick, at the Millenium Hilton. He was charged with second-degree assault. Prosecutors, however, have now dropped that charge. New York City’s District Attorney Mirah Cruzer cited “insufficient evidence”, as the reason for dropping the second-degree assault charges. Porter Jr. still faces second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault charges.

The 23-year-old guard, however, could potentially avoid jail time if he accepts the plea deal offered by the District Attorney’s office. The offer made to Porter Jr. states that “if he (Porter Jr.) pleads guilty to Assault in the Third Degree (a misdemeanor) and completes Abusive Partner Intervention Programming (APIP) or equivalent programming, and abides by the temporary order of protection, he would be able to re-plead to Harassment in the Second Degree (a violation), with a final limited order of protection.”

This plea deal offers Porter Jr. severely reduced jail time. Harassment in the second-degree is punishable by 15 days in jail, which is significantly lower than a third-degree assault charge. A class A misdemeanor, third-degree assault carries with it a maximum sentence of one year in jail. There are high chances of Porter Jr. not serving a jail sentence, as charges related to second-degree harassment often result in “time served” sentences.

A halt to his time on court

If Porter Jr. accepts the plea deal, then he faces little to no jail time. Nevertheless, the assault allegations have brought a halt to his once-promising NBA career. Following the controversy, the Rockets traded him to the OKC Thunder, who subsequently waived him, leaving him without a spot on an NBA roster.

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Following Porter’s arrest, Rockets’ GM Rafael Stone said, “The allegations against him are deeply troubling. Going back a few weeks, as soon as I heard the allegations, I informed his representatives that he could not be part of the Houston Rockets.” The case’s next hearing has been scheduled for 16th January 2024.

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