Restricted free agent Hornets forward Miles Bridges and his representatives have worked out a plea deal with prosecutors regarding his felony domestic violence case, per Baxter Holmes of ESPN. Bridges pleaded no contest, meaning he’s accepting a punishment and conviction without admitting guilt.
Bridges was arrested and charged following a Los Angeles incident this spring in which he was accused of physical violence against his partner in front of their two young children. She required medical attention following the incident, per TMZ Sports.
In July, Bridges pleaded not guilty to the three charges initially levied at him: one count of injuring a parent to a minor, and two counts of child abuse in situations that could cause significant injury or death. As Holmes notes, the office of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon indicated that Bridges’ kids were present to witness the abuse, but would not otherwise elaborate on the two child abuse charges.
On Thursday, Bridges’ lawyer finalized a plea deal with Gascon’s office, in which Bridges would plead no contest to one charge of felony domestic violence while the two child abuse counts were dismissed. Bridges will accept three years of probation while avoiding jail time.
According to Holmes, Bridges has been ordered to attend a year’s worth of domestic violence counseling sessions and a year of parenting classes. Another element of his three-year probation is 100 hours of community service.
Bridges will not be permitted to own any dangerous weapons, including guns or ammo. He was ordered to pay minimal fines and is also required to honor his former girlfriend’s 10-year restraining order, which mandates that he is to have no contact with her and must remain 100 yards or more away from her at all times. He will be permitted to keep shared custody of their children, with any visitation or exchange of the children occurring through a neutral third party, Holmes explains.
Though Bridges received a qualifying offer to enter restricted free agency just weeks before he was booked, Charlotte let the offer expire early last month. Thus, Bridges remains a restricted free agent, but he will no longer be able to accept the qualifying offer. He could negotiate a new deal with the Hornets or sign an offer sheet with another team.
If the 6’7″ combo forward does eventually sign a new contract with an NBA club, the league would have the ability to fine, suspend, or even disqualify Bridges due to his no-contest plea. The NBA wouldn’t have the jurisdiction to discipline Bridges if he had gone through the trial process and been found not guilty.
Lakers.
Nah, Nets are going to pick them up. They’re such a mess.
Yep, Nash is lucky to get out of that mess.
The only rightful place for him right now is Brooklyn.
Disgusting. Child abusers should be in prison, especially of that level. Add the domestic abuse on top and he should be locked away for years. Even with a plea deal. This isn’t a mob case where he’s rolling over on someone the police can’t get, the only person who benefits is himself.
“especially of that level.”
Please explain to us what level he is at because I don’t see it included in the report up above. child abusers should go to prison, but I’m thinking this is not so simple. The police and DA are known to inflate charges to secure a minor conviction
“two counts of child abuse in situations that could cause significant injury or death”
It’s right there in the article. The charge is a step above a standard child abuse charge. So even if it’s an “inflated” charge, that’s still too much.
I get your point, but what was/is throwing me off was that he was allowed to keep shared custody of the children. If he beat the kids that bad and is a clear danger, that seems highly unlikely.
The level where facial fractures appear.
Sorry if me being mad offends you, but as a survivor of child abuse myself, this is a hot-button topic for me.
Don’t apologize. As someone who is not a survivor of child abuse (well, physical anyway) this is upsetting enough for me. I can only imagine what it’s like for someone who has endured abuse of their own.
Sorry you had to experience that. It frustrates me to no end how little we seem to care about our kids as a society. At best, they are often used as pawns for political purposes. At worst, we ignore them because they have neither money, power or voting capability.
Completely agree.
Obviously the mother of his kids realizes that it’s far better for her kids if he’s playing and making money. She signed off on the settlement. This wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
She likely signed off because she likely doesn’t have the money for a protracted court battle. At least that’s how it seems to me given how lopsided the settlement is. Minimal fines for a multimillionaire athlete? Please. My mother had to do the same.
Whatever. I’m done. Comments should’ve just been locked out to begin with.
He’s neither playing nor making money, and the prospects of him doing so in the NBA again are dim. So you’re wrong.
I believe he didn’t actually abuse his children in this incident; they were present for the assault of his gf.
Not to minimize what happened of course—he absolutely should be in jail and it is likely he will, unfortunately, hurt his children at some point. Just stating a fact.
That he gets off with a slap on the wrist is infuriating and yet another reminder that the law does not apply to the rich in this country. I hope the league suspends him indefinitely (1 year minimum, with conditional reinstatement only under the strictest of conditions).
Can he still resign with the Hornets?
Yes. Restricted free agent. They can match any offer and retain, or make own offer for him to take.
Now all they need is for the Nets to cut kyrie and the hornets releasing their rights to bridges and the lakers are gonna be looking like a great team all of a sudden.
Nah, the Hornets are not going to release their rights if no one else makes an offer. If someone offers him the minimum, Hornets may match. They’d have to open a roster spot for him, but league would probably follow up with a suspension that would put him on the restricted list and open the spot after a number of games (25?). Hornets would hold onto his rights without paying him.
Wondering if. He suits up this year ….??
Not likely at all this year. Charlotte and about 15 other teams are perfectly content getting balls in the lottery, and not trying to add Miles Bridges baggage, or added wins. No contender is gonna touch him.
Got a civil suit coming for sure. He’s under contract for this yr with Hornets. No
Or am I wrong.
If not Nets definitely lol.
Not under contract but they can hold his rights as long as they want.
Ban him! Ain’t no Hornets fan want him back!
He will play before krie plays
Thieves & Murderers just need to become pro-athlete’s… That way they will be let go when they break real laws. Hope the girlfriend is on board with this because this story is not gonna have a silver lining. Hope the fans will boycott the games if he plays, and the police, and Attorney’s in the black dresses continue to sit on their hands and let him get away with being a woman beater. Pretty ugly
Waiting for Bron and Chris Paul to say this kind of thing is unacceptable in the NBA. There were crickets over Kyrie but if this guy gets let back, it’s disgusting
“10-year restraining order, which mandates that he is to have no contact with her … He will be permitted to keep shared custody of their children.”
“Hey we went to the movies, I’m bringing the kids back to you in 30min”
“You broke the restraining order”
Hornets are better off without him from a public perspective in particular.
They should be working on a sign and trade to get something in return and get him to a place that wants him.
Miles Bridges for Evan Fouriner, a firsts and 2 seconds?
Miles Bridges for Eric Gordon, a first and 2 seconds?
Miles Bridges for Harrison Barnes and a first?
On top of that do a Hayward and Rozier for Russ and 2 firsts deal then tank for Victor. Hopefully at the deadline you might also get a first for Kelly Oubre.
Sign Gelo to a 1 year deal to keep LaMelo happy. Bring back Kemba on a 1 year deal for build some culture. It’ll give a great opportunity to all the young guys.
Say you do the Knicks deal,
Start DSJ Fouriner Oubre Washington Williams
Off the bench Kemba Bouknight Martin McDaniels Richards
Also give minutes to Melo and Gelo, McGowens, Thor and Kai Jones.
Should finish with 20-30 wins and a good chance at Victor. Hopefully one or two of the young guys really step up in bigger minutes.
Then next season run it back with LaMelo Victor and better young core and support players. You’ll also have FA money to spend and in he future you’ll have more future picks.
On a side note would be a great deal for the Knick’s after missing Donovan cause the asking price was so high. Bridges for 1 first could be a great addition potentially.
Brunson Barrett Bridges Randle Robinson
DRose Quickly/Grimes Reddish Toppin Hartenstein
Bridges in Sac town would be decent too.
Fox Hueter Bridges Murray Sabonis
Really high tempo, quick in transition, athletic team. Bridges also a decent defend at multiple positions.
OJ Mayo got a 2 year ban for less…
The league needs to act before any rumblings of his return surface…