The Los Angeles Times, and other media outlets, have reported that Lakers reserve power player Jordan Hill has pleaded no contest to assault, just before he was due to start training camp, in a domestic violence incident involving his former girlfriend.
Hill entered his plea in a Houston courtroom on September 27.
The plea is expected to allow Hill to avoid prison time.
According to reporters Hill has been ordered to serve one year of probation, pay a fine of $500, undergo domestic violence counseling, donate $100 to a violence fund, and avoid any further contact with his former girlfriend.
D.L. accused Hill of choking her, among other physical abuses, in an event that occurred this past February, while he still played for the Houston Rockets.
Rusty Hardin Jr. was the attorney that represented Hill in the matter. D.L.'s attorney was the well-known litigator Gloria Allred. Reporters were unable to reach either attorney for comment.
D.L. is expected to follow the criminal charges with a civil suit against Hill, with Allred representing her in that case as well.
Reporters noted that during her testimony, D.L. broke down into sobs as she told her story. She described how Hill punched her legs, yanked her from a couch and then held her from behind while choking her.
Of his client's no-contest plea Hardin told the media, "Jordan simply wanted to put this behind him to play basketball. The alternative is to have this be pending until the season is over and have a trial sometime next year."
Hill was acquired by the Lakers from Houston during a midseason trade with Derek Fisher. In the contract he signed with the Lakers this past summer he currently has two years and $7 million left.
Hardin told reporters via a telephone interview that if his client shows good behavior during his yearlong probation his conviction will disappear. Hardin added that Jordan made the decision "so he could play basketball without any distractions."
A noted handed to Hardin by Allred contained, according to Hardin, Allred's notification of the possibility of a future personal injury civil suit.
In speaking generally about the need of civil litigation and seeking an award for damages, Allred explained, "If any person inflicts violence on a woman and it's unlawful, the victim has a right to be compensated. No victim should bear the cost of her injuries to herself. They should be borne by the wrongdoer who inflicted those injuries."
In regards to how D.L. felt about how the criminal case worked out Allred offered, "She would have liked him to plead guilty instead of no contest to indicate he would take full responsibility and be accountable for what he has done."
In the case of domestic violence, you, as the victim, must contact a family law attorney to best represent you in court. An important step to end the cycle of your abuse is filing charges against your abuser and then, testifying in court.