Bribery Charges Against Tulane’s Williams Are Dismissed

Sports bribery charges against former Tulane basketball star John (Hot Rod) Williams were dismissed Wednesday at New Orleans because of misconduct by prosecutors that deprived Williams of a fair trial.

Orleans Parish Judge Alvin Oser quashed the indictment that charged Williams with accepting $4,900 to shave points in Metro Conference basketball games in February against Memphis State and Southern Mississippi.

The ruling frees Williams of all criminal charges and apparently clears the way for him to sign a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected the 6-10 center in the second round of June’s NBA draft.

In his written opinion dismissing the indictment, Oser severly criticized prosecutors in the case, saying that Williams, 23, could not be brought back to trial because of their misconduct.

Oser said the state’s lawyers provoked defense attorneys into seeking and receiving a mistrial on Aug. 15 because they feared they were losing the case.

Since prosecutors intended by their actions to “subvert the protections afforded by the double jeopardy clauses of the Louisiana Constitution and the U.S. Constitution,” Oser wrote, a new trial would violate Williams’ rights.

Prosecutors said they will appeal the ruling.