Thabo Sefolosha was found not guilty of all three criminal charges by a New York jury Friday.
The verdict was returned in less than an hour after the jury convened in Manhattan Criminal Court after getting the case as the conclusion of a four-day trial late Thursday afternoon. The Hawks player was arrested outside a New York nightclub in the early morning hours of April 8. During the arrest, Sefolosha suffered a broken right leg and ligament damage that required season-ending surgery as the Hawks were nearing the end of the regular season and preparing for the playoffs.
Sefolosha was charged with obstructing governmental administration, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. A charge of harassment was dismissed at the start of the trial. A charges were misdemeanors.
“I want to assure (jury) this was the right verdict,” Sefolosha said immediately after the verdict. “They were on the side of truth and justice.”
Former Hawks player Pero Antic was also arrested during the incident. Charges against him were recently dropped. Antic and Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer were among those to testify on Sefolosha’s behalf.
A civil suit could now be filed by Sefolosha, who declined a plea bargain in the case before the trial.
Sefolosha has been away from the Hawks the past week as they held training camp in advance of the season. He missed an exhibition game in Cincinnati Wednesday and will likely miss a game tonight in Jacksonville, Fla.
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