Jason Kidd Pleads Guilty to Drunk Driving Charge

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge. Kidd was placed on interim probation, nearly a year after crashing his SUV (and suffering minor injuries.) Per the AP: “In exchange for the guilty plea, Kidd agreed to speak to Long Island high school students about the dangers of drunken driving. If he fulfills his community service, his plea will be reduced to a violation – driving while ability impaired – when he returns to court on Sept. 30. Kidd, who retired as an NBA player after last season, was recently hired to coach the Nets – the team he took to two NBA Finals as a player when the franchise played in New Jersey. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said outside court that Kidd could have received three years’ probation, but a better alternative was reached. ‘He’s a role model to kids and other people. And he’s going to have the opportunity to talk to them about the foolish mistake that he made and the fact he took responsibility for his actions,’ Spota said outside court. ‘That is for me more important than three years’ probation.’ Police said Kidd crashed his SUV into a telephone pole in the Hamptons community of Water Mill on July 15, 2012. He was treated at a hospital for minor injuries. Defense attorney Ed Burke Jr. said Kidd was returning from a charity function before the crash. A Southampton Town Police report noted the 10-time NBA all-star and Olympic gold medalist was unsteady on his feet, smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot and glassy eyes.”