5 Pacers, 7 fans charged in basket-brawl

PONTIAC, Mich. — Five Indiana Pacers players and seven Detroit Pistons fans were charged Wednesday in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history — the melee last month that broke out on the basketball court and spread to the stands.

NBA players Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, David Harrison and Anthony Johnson were all charged with one count of assault and battery, a misdemeanor that could bring three months in jail and a $500 fine. Three-time All-Star Jermaine O'Neal was charged with two counts of the same offense.

Five of the fans were charged with the same offenses. One of them, Bryant Jackson, 35, was also charged with felony assault for allegedly hurling a chair. That crime is punishable by up to four years in prison, but he could get even more time because he has prior criminal convictions.

The other fans and players would not likely face jail time if they have clean records.

"Typically someone who has no prior record and due to the fact there were no extenuating injuries, they likely would face probations, fines and costs," said prosecutor David Gorcyca.

Now that arrest warrants have been issued, the prosecutor said the players and fans charged are required to turn themselves in. He said some of the accused or their attorneys contacted his office earlier and said they would do so.

The fight erupted Nov. 19 during a game against the Detroit Pistons after an on-court dispute over a foul. A fan tossed a drink at Artest, who then charged into the stands and began beating the man he thought had done it.

Among the fans charged was 39-year-old John Green, the man accused of throwing the cup.

"John Green . . . in my mind single-handedly incited this whole interaction between the fans and players and probably is the one that's most culpable," said Gorcyca, who relied in part on video footage of the brawl in bringing charges.

The fans charged also included Detroit Pistons star Ben Wallace's brother, David, of Selma, Ala., who was in town to watch the game, and two others who allegedly threw cups in players' faces. Two others were charged with violating a local ordinance that prohibits fans from entering the court.

After Artest climbed into the stands, Jackson joined him and threw punches at fans, who punched back. O'Neal hit a fan who ran onto the court. Gorcyca said there was no evidence that any Pistons players threw punches during the melee.