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Josh Jackson, the University of Kansas’ standout freshman forward, was arraigned today on a single misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property, a charge that stems from an incident in December with a member of the Kansas women’s basketball team.
Jackson appeared in Douglas County District Court and was formally charged, but submitted a not guilty plea through his attorney, Hatem Chahine.
Judge James George accepted the plea from Jackson, ordering him to surrender himself to the county jail by April 14. The bail for Jackson has been set at $500.
Jackson is being accused of damaging a car belonging to McKenzie Calvert, a member of the KU women’s basketball team. The incident occurred on Dec. 9, after an argument Calvert had with her ex-boyfriend and Jackson’s teammate Lagerald Vick. Jackson then followed Calvert outside and allegedly hit and kicked the vehicle, then “yelled at her to get out of the car and he would beat her,” according to an affidavit.
The total damage to the car was $3,150.45.
However, Jackson was only given a single misdemeanor charge of criminal damage of less than $1,000.
According to a news release, Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said that the county declined to file a felony charge (defined as damage exceeding $1,000) because “the state could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that all the damage to the door and tail light were caused by Jackson due to other unidentifiable individual(s) damaging the vehicle.”
When Jackson was interviewed by the police the following day, he reportedly said that other people threw rocks at the vehicle.
Yet in the affidavit, it was noted that neither Calvert or any additional witnesses saw anyone else besides Jackson damaging the car.
Jackson was not suspended during the season for his role, but was disciplined “in-house”, according to KU men’s head coach Bill Self. Calvert was suspended following the incident, but it was rescinded before the next game, though her playing time was cut in half.
Jackson’s attorney has said that he plans to file for diversion. While the diversion request is being processed, the judge has set Jackson’s next court appearance for May 24.