HEADLINE

Plea deal by Grizzlies F Jackson includes diversion program

Field Level Media

July 17, 2019 at 12:19 am.

Forward Josh Jackson, acquired by the Memphis Grizzlies in early July, entered into a diversion program as part of a plea deal to settle a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

The charge stemmed from Jackson fleeing police at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami Gardens, Fla., in May.

Jackson was arrested at the music festival on a felony charge of escape and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest without violence after trying to enter a VIP area several times without a proper pass. Handcuffed by the police, he ran from the officers before being detained, according to the police report.

According to online court records, Jackson went into the program on July 2. If the diversion program is successfully completed, the misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest will be dismissed. The felony charge of escape after his arrest on May 10 had been previously dismissed by the state attorney.

The Phoenix Suns dealt Jackson to the Grizzlies on July 3.

Jackson, 22, was drafted fourth overall out of Kansas by Phoenix in 2017. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 79 games (29 starts) last season, with two categories (13.1 points and 4.6 rebounds) slightly down from his averages for 2017-18, when he made the All-Rookie second team.

Jackson previously agreed to enter a diversion program in 2017 to settle a misdemeanor count of criminal property damage following an incident with a Kansas women’s basketball player in 2016.

Also, last month, the mother of Jackson’s 4-month-old child accused Jackson of using marijuana and getting the baby high, according to ArizonaSports.com, which cited court documents. Jackson denied the accusation through his attorney.