Texas Judge Dismisses Misdemeanor Gun Charge Against James Harden
The Cleveland Cavaliers guard completed an alternative resolution program that allowed him to avoid a criminal record, court records show.
A misdemeanor gun charge against Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden has been dismissed in Texas after he completed an alternative resolution program that allowed him to avoid a criminal record, court records show.
Harris County Criminal Court Judge Alex Salgado in Houston dismissed the charge Thursday at the request of the Harris County district attorney's office, following Harden's completion of the program. Such programs allow defendants to avoid a criminal conviction by performing community service. Court documents do not detail the terms of Harden's agreement.
Harden, 36, was arrested June 13 in Houston after police found that he had a handgun in his vehicle. Under Texas law, having a gun "in plain view" in a vehicle without a license is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
Neither the district attorney's office nor Harden's attorney in Houston immediately responded to email and phone messages Friday seeking comment. The Cavaliers also did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Harden finished his 17th NBA season in May, when the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks swept the Cavaliers in four games in the Eastern Conference finals. He averaged 23.6 points per game during the regular season, appearing in 70 of 82 games.
He has said he would like to remain with the Cavaliers, but he declined to exercise a $42.3 million option to return next season, favoring a longer contract instead. A deal has not been finalized.
Harden is an 11-time All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection. He was named MVP in the 2017-18 season while playing for the Houston Rockets, averaging 30.4 points per game that year.
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