Former Arizona Wildcat Jesse Perry is free to pursue a professional basketball career after pleading guilty to a reduced, misdemeanor charge of strangulation in a plea agreement filed at Pima County Superior Court.
Perry had faced three felony domestic violence charges stemming from an April 20 incident at his apartment complex, and the charges could have impacted Perry's ability to travel and sign a pro contract overseas if they resulted in a conviction.
Three of the felony charges were ruled to have probable cause after a May preliminary hearing in Pima County Justice Court; a fourth charge of aggravated assault on an incapacitated victim was thrown out.
But in a plea agreement filed Friday in Superior Court, Perry pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful imprisonment by strangulation and was sentenced to three years of unsupervised probation and a total of $2,370 in fees. The fees include $250 restitution to the alleged victim for clothing that was ruined and $2,000 to the charity fund of Perry's choosing.
"Jesse Perry is thankful. He's learned from this," said Michael Harwin, Perry's attorney.
Harwin also issued a statement saying that Perry was humbled by the experience and grateful to those who supported him "through this ordeal."
"Jesse has never before been in trouble in his life; this was a just result," Harwin said in his statement. "Jesse appreciates the faith that people have shown him. He will not let them down."
Ellen Brown, the deputy county attorney, was not available for comment.
In May, Pima County Justice Court judge Jack Peyton ruled there was probable cause for three of the four felony charges against Perry, after the alleged victim, 22, testified that she "went black" after Perry choked her repeatedly.
A friend of the alleged victim, Tiffany Spradlin, testified that Perry and the woman were "going back and forth" as the incident became physical.
Harwin, filed a motion in Superior Court for Perry's case to be reconsidered or dismissed. Harwin asserted that Perry was not in a domestic relationship with the alleged victim.
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