NY Nicks point guard Jason Kidd appeared in court Tuesday to enter a plea in his DUI case and his DUI attorney vowed they would fight the charges.
Kidd was arrested on July 15th in Southampton after he crashed his SUV into a telephone pole and plunged into a wooded area.
Kidd suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. He was later charged with misdemeanor DUI, which carries a penalty of up to one year in jail.
Just after the incident photos surfaced of a very drunk Kidd stumbling out of a charity event right before his arrest which took place just days after he signed with the NY Nicks.
Edward Burke Jr., the attorney representing Kidd, said his client took the charges “very, very seriously” and said, “He wants to get this past him as quickly as possible. The legal process takes some time but he is ready for his season.’
Burke also said he would be pleading not guilty to DWI which paves the way for them to launch an effective DUI defense. Although a plea bargain can get the accused a reduced sentence, the conviction will stay on a person’s permanent record for years, which may explain why Kidd plans to fight the charge.
In addition to going on the permanent record, a DUI causes a number of other headaches and the convicted party often loses their driving privileges for numerous months, must attend alcohol education classes and be on probation for at least six months.
