'Pacman' Jones pleads no contest in Las Vegas

L.A. Times Archives

Dec. 7, 2007 12 AM PT

From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Suspended NFL player Adam “Pacman” Jones pleaded no contest Thursday to a reduced charge in a Las Vegas strip club melee which preceded a triple shooting that left a man paralyzed.

The Tennessee Titans cornerback appeared in Clark County District Court to take a plea deal that officials said will get him probation in return for his testimony about the gunman who opened fire outside the club at the end of NBA All-Star weekend in February.

The 24-year-old Jones, who is seeking reinstatement to the Titans, said little during the brief arraignment.

He doffed a blue Texas Rangers baseball cap as he walked into court, handed it to a lawyer, and answered “Yes, sir,” to a judge who asked him if he understood the plea deal.

Jones will be sentenced to one year of probation for agreeing not to contest a charge of conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct, a gross misdemeanor, and to testify about the gunman.

Prosecutors dropped two charges of coercion, a felony carrying a possible sentence of one to six years in prison.

The remaining 47 pit bulls seized from suspended NFL star Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation are being placed with rescue organizations.

Federal judge Henry E. Hudson signed off on recommendations by the court-appointed guardian for the dogs from Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels operation.

Rebecca J. Huss, an animal law expert, recommended the dogs be placed with eight organizations, including 22 to Best Friends Animal Society in Utah and 10 to Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls in California.

The transfers should take place within the next month, according to Tom Shaer, a spokesman for Huss.

At least one suspect charged in the killing of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor was part of an earlier break-in at the player’s home, according to newspaper reports.

Investigators believe they have connected a single suspect to the Nov. 18 break-in at Taylor’s suburban Miami home, the Miami Herald reported. The Herald cited unnamed law enforcement sources who were familiar with the Taylor case.

A former Fresno State women’s basketball coach was awarded $19.1 million in a sexual discrimination lawsuit that alleged she was fired because she advocated for women’s rights.

The university argued Stacy Johnson-Klein was fired because she was dishonest, potentially dangerous and abusive to her players and assistant coaches.

Fresno State President John Welty said the university plans to appeal.

SOCCER

Solo said dream was ‘ripped away from me’

Goalie Hope Solo, in her first public comments since she criticized her benching in the World Cup, said she never saw it coming and wasn’t prepared for it.

“I had felt as though my childhood dream basically had been ripped away from me,” she said.

The starting goalkeeper for the U.S. soccer team in China, Solo played well in the opening round and quarterfinals. But then coach Greg Ryan benched her for veteran Briana Scurry against Brazil, and the Americans were routed, 4-0.

USC (18-3-2) will play UCLA (20-1-2) in the semifinals of the women’s Division I tournament today at College Station, Texas.

Atlante and Pumas UNAM battled to a 0-0 tie in the first game of the two-leg final of the Mexican league’s Apertura tournament. The second game will be played Sunday at Atlante’s stadium in Cancun.

MISCELLANY

Baseball writers back off of awards decision

Baseball writers tabled their decision to prevent players from receiving bonuses for winning the most valuable player, Cy Young or rookie awards.

On Wednesday, the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America voted, 41-21, in favor of the resolution, which was to be implemented in 2013. The lag time was designed to give agents and teams an opportunity to adapt to the ban.

A day later, the BBWAA’s board voted, 7-0, to table implementation.

Youngsters aged between 8 and 16 will be given free admission to next year’s Masters in Augusta, Ga., if accompanied by an accredited patron.

“We want to inspire the next generation of golfers,” Augusta National Golf Club chairman Billy Payne said in a statement. “We’re serious about exposing youngsters to golf and the Masters.”

Alinghi has been unwilling to hold talks regarding the organization of the next America’s Cup, BMW Oracle Racing’s home yacht club said.

BMW Oracle Racing, with the backing of eight other syndicates, said it sent a second request for talks to Alinghi on Tuesday that went unanswered.

Alinghi wouldn’t confirm if it had received the correspondences.

Zach Lund edged Eric Bernotas to win the skeleton event on the first day of the FIBT Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup at Park City, Utah.

Renault was not penalized, despite being found guilty of having confidential information about Formula One rival McLaren.

In September, McLaren was fined $100 million for using confidential data from Ferrari.

The College of William and Mary’s new logo sheds the two feathers that the NCAA deemed offensive to American Indians.

The logo revealed Thursday updates the familiar “W&M;” monogram and uses the school’s more traditional colors of green and gold instead of the more recent green and yellow.

Former Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner was selected to the board of directors of the USA Track & Field Foundation.

Alexandre Vinokourov was banned one year by the Kazakhstan cycling federation for doping.