Former NBA and Georgia Tech hoops star Javaris Crittenton is now back in jail.
The former Atlanta Journal-Constitution Mr. Georgia Basketball surrendered to officials at the Fulton County Jail late Thursday afternoon on murder charges.
Crittenton, 25, was indicted Tuesday on murder, attempted murder and criminal gang activity charges, among other offenses, for allegedly shooting and killing Julian Jones with an assault rifle in August 2011 and trying to kill another man from a rival gang.
Prosecutors claimed Tuesday that Crittenton had joined the Los Angeles-based Mansfield Gangster Crips soon after being drafted by the L.A. Lakers and inking a multi-million-dollar deal.
Reached by phone Thursday evening, Crittenton’s attorney Brian Steel continued to declare his client’s innocence.
“Mr. Crittenton has committed no crime that is alleged in this bill of indictment,” Steel said. “He has filed motions for a speedy trial, and we look forward to trying this case for the citizens of Fulton County so a truthful verdict of ‘not guilty’ can be reckoned and Mr. Crittenton can go back to being a professional basketball player.”
Following the Fulton County grand jury indictment, prosecutors said that Crittenton had been given until noon on Friday to turn himself in.
If released, he will remain under the same $230,000 bond he was required to post upon his 2011 release following his initial arrest in the case.
If he is released this time, Crittenton still will have to do without his passport and firearms license and stay away from potential witnesses, Fulton County District Attorney officials said.
Prosecutors said Crittenton and his cousin Douglas Gamble killed 23-year-old Jones on Aug. 19, 2011, while gunning for Trontavious Stephens, who was with the Atlanta mother of four when she was shot.
Stephens, prosecutors said, had robbed Crittenton at gunpoint months earlier.
Days before the shooting, prosecutors said Crittenton shot at, but missed, Stephens’ brother, Demontinez.
In addition to murder, attempted murder and criminal gang charges, Crittenton and Gamble are charged with multiple counts of felony murder – killing someone while committing a felony – aggravated assault, felony gun possession and giving false statements.
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