Thabo Sefolosha, a basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks, has set the stage for a New York City courtroom showdown after turning down a lenient plea deal on Wednesday over his April arrest according to a report from The New York Times.
Sefolosha’s attorney explained they turned down the plea deal, because “he’s innocent and he wants to be vindicated.”
The plea deal parameters included Sefolosha completing one day of community service, staying out of trouble for six months, and the charges would all be dismissed. He wasn’t having any of it, and instead is taking his case to court to clear his name. The trial is set to begin on Oct. 5 for charges of obstructing governmental administration, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
In the early hours of April 8, Sefolosha and his Atlanta Hawks teammate Pero Antic were arrested by police after NBA player Chris Copeland was stabbed and an altercation ensued. (RELATED: Pacers’ Chris Copeland Stabbed Outside New York Nightclub)
Sefolosha’s struggle with police and arrest resulted in him sustaining a broken right fibula and ligament damage in his leg. He went on to the miss the NBA playoffs because of his injuries. (RELATED: NBA Player: Police Responsible For Season-Ending Injuries)