Memphis Freshman Mikey Williams Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charge in Firearm Incident
Date: December 1, 2023
In a recent legal development, Memphis freshman guard Mikey Williams entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge in a California court on Thursday. The plea, pertaining to a felony charge of making criminal threats, marks the conclusion of the assault case against Williams arising from a March 27 incident at his San Diego home where shots were fired at a vehicle.
According to Randy Grossman, one of Williams’ attorneys, the freshman, renowned for his stellar high school career, had faced nine felony counts related to the incident. The charges stemmed from allegations that Williams had fired a gun at a vehicle leaving his residence, although the occupants of the vehicle remained unharmed.
Williams, who had signed with Memphis, was arrested in April and had been absent from the team during the legal proceedings. With the recent plea, Williams can potentially have the charge reduced to a misdemeanor by adhering to certain conditions. These conditions include abstaining from breaking any laws, completing a gun safety course, and fulfilling 80 hours of community service before his sentencing, currently scheduled for August 2024.
Expressing his emotions outside the San Diego courtroom in a video shared by Overtime, Williams stated, “I feel good, brother. All glory to God. I’m just happy that I made it out of this situation. But I’m just excited to get back to the court.”
Despite the plea, Memphis has not provided updates on Williams’ playing status. Before the season, the university had announced that Williams would not be allowed to participate in team activities while his criminal case was ongoing. Head coach Penny Hardaway reportedly did not offer any updates during a recent video conference with Williams’ attorney.
Randy Grossman informed ESPN that Williams has “accepted responsibility” for his actions, expressing regret for making threats while holding a gun. Although a firearm was recovered during a search of Williams’ home, Grossman clarified that Williams has not admitted to firing the shots that struck the car outside his residence.
“He’s accepting responsibility for the evidence. There was no direct evidence that he had fired any shots,” stated Grossman, emphasizing Williams’ acknowledgment of mistakes made during the incident.
Grossman expressed optimism about Williams’ future, hoping that the freshman can resume his athletic career following the plea. “Our goal was to get Mikey back on the basketball court as soon as possible,” he added. The developments in Williams’ legal case continue to shape the narrative surrounding his return to the basketball court.
NEWS: Memphis G Mikey Williams has accepted a plea deal to reduce his charges to just one misdemeanor charge after the successful completion of anger and gun safety classes, per @fox5sandiego.
Just a little reminder of what Mikey Williams can do on the basketball court 🗣️🔥… pic.twitter.com/HeqNWLgSA1
— Hitmen Hoops Media (@HitmenHoops) November 30, 2023