Lamar Odom Reaches Plea Deal That Avoids DUI Conviction

Former Los Angeles Lakers star Lamar Odom is about to resolve his DUI case in Las Vegas after agreeing to enter a no-contest plea, in keeping with The Related Press.

Odom’s lawyer instructed The Related Press that the previous NBA champion will plead no contest to a diminished cost of reckless driving, avoiding a DUI conviction with out admitting guilt. He had initially been scheduled to seem for a bench trial on Tuesday.

The case stems from Odom’s arrest on Jan. 17, when Nevada State Police pulled him over on a Las Vegas-area interstate. The 46-year-old was driving at greater than 100 mph earlier than altering lanes with out signaling as officers tried to cease him, in keeping with police.

The arrest report acknowledged that each Odom and a passenger had pink, watery eyes and smelled of marijuana. Police additionally mentioned Odom gave a number of variations of occasions whereas talking with the responding trooper earlier than failing a discipline sobriety take a look at. He was then arrested and charged with driving underneath the affect, rushing and failing to take care of his lane.

The plea settlement reduces probably the most critical cost to reckless driving, bringing the authorized matter to a detailed with out Odom admitting felony legal responsibility for DUI.

Odom was chosen with the fourth general choose within the 1999 NBA Draft after starring at Rhode Island and went on to play 14 NBA seasons. He received back-to-back championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Yr throughout his profession.

Off the court docket, Odom has been open about his lengthy battle with substance abuse. His struggles turned broadly publicized following his marriage to Khloé Kardashian, with the couple divorcing in 2016.

In 2015, Odom suffered a near-fatal overdose after being discovered unconscious at a Nevada brothel. He has since revealed that he doesn’t bear in mind taking medicine that evening however mentioned the incident resulted in 12 strokes and 6 coronary heart assaults. His restoration and private journey have been later featured in a Netflix “‘Untold” documentary launched earlier this yr.

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