Memphis basketball freshman Mikey Williams has pleaded guilty to one count of making criminal threats, according to Fox 5 San Diego.
Williams, 19, was involved in a shooting near his home in San Diego County back in March. He was arrested in April, charged with multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
As part of his plea deal, Williams has to complete courses on gun safety and anger management before he's due in court again to be sentenced. He also must complete 80 hours of community service. If he does, the charge will be dropped to a misdemeanor. That court date is scheduled for Aug. 12, 2024.
"I feel good, brother," Williams said Thursday outside the San Diego courtroom. "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."
Mikey Williams is feeling good
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One of Williams' attorneys, Randy Grossman, stated that his client "regrets" the decision and has learned from his mistake.
"He's accepted responsibility for his actions," Grossman said. "He regrets the decision he made that night. This is an 18-year-old kid who legitimately felt threatened. He knows he's made mistakes. ... He's accepting responsibility for the evidence. There was no direct evidence that he had fired any shots."
The No. 26 overall player in the class of 2023, per 247Sports, Williams has become a household name among basketball fans due to his popularity online. He's been in the spotlight since he was in middle school, growing his audience throughout an exceptional high school career and other showcases throughout the country.
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The recent development in the case opens the door for a potential return to the basketball court soon for Williams. The freshman point guard has been away from the Memphis basketball program as the legal processes concluded.
Mikey Williams arrest
Williams was arrested in April stemming as a result of an altercation at a house in Jamul, Calif.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the incident started as a verbal argument about guests being asked to leave. Five people, including three minors, got into a car and were in the process of leaving the residence in the vehicle when shots were allegedly fired. The car was hit, but no one inside was hurt.
Williams was initially charged with five counts of assault with a weapon and one count of firing into an occupied vehicle. He pleaded not guilty in April when the charges were initially handed out. The prosecutors also filed three more charges against Williams in October.
