Portland, OR — Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones was arrested in Portland Wednesday after police saw him stomping on a homeless man’s leg outside a nightclub.
A police officer who saw a large group of people leaving the Tube nightclub used a PA system to tell them to go back onto the sidewalk. Sgt. Anthony Passadore then saw Jones walk by a doorway where two homeless men were sleeping. The 21-year-old allegedly yelled “Wake up” at one of the men, identified as 46-year-old Daniel John Lellerher, and then stomped on the man’s leg . Lellerher suffered a minor leg injury but did not require medical attention.
Jones was stopped by police about a block and a half away from the nightclub and taken into custody.
According to the New York Daily News, Jones was charged with harassment , a Class B misdemeanor. He was released on his own recognizance about four hours after the incident, and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Multnomah County Circuit Court Wednesday. Jones has a court date scheduled for September 6.
Jones is accused of “unlawfully and intentionally” harassing and a homeless man by subjecting him to “offensive physical conduct,” according to information presented by the district attorney. Jones’ attorney, Kevin O’Connell, was able to successfully request that Jones be able to travel for basketball games while he awaits trial.
O’Connell also said that Jones was planning to fight the charge, and said that he denied that he stomped on Lelleher’s leg. Jones was ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victim.
Terrence Jones graduated from Portland’s Jefferson High School before playing for the University of Kentucky for two years. He was selected as the Rockets’ 18th pick of the 2012 draft, and averaged 5.5 points in 19 games.
Houston Rockets spokeswoman Tracey Hughes said the team had no comment on Jones arrest.
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