Ex-Net Williams to take deal, serve at least 18 months in prison

Retired NBA star Jayson Williams has cut a plea deal that would send him to prison for up to three years for accidentally shooting a driver at Williams' New Jersey estate in 2002, a person with knowledge of the case told the Associated Press on Thursday.

Williams, who retired in 2000 after playing nine seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, was to face a retrial in January on a reckless manslaughter count.

The person, who not authorized to speak about the case, told the AP on condition of anonymity that Williams is to plead guilty to aggravated assault on Friday. Because a gun was used in the crime, Williams must serve at least 18 months in prison, the person said.

Several messages left for defense attorney Joseph Hayden were not returned Thursday. The state attorney general's office, which has taken over the case, declined to comment on any aspect of the case because of a gag order.

The plea deal would resolve all charges in the case that dragged out for nearly eight years.

Witnesses testified that Williams was showing off a shotgun in his bedroom in February 2002 when he snapped the weapon shut and it fired one shot that struck driver Costas Christofi in the chest, killing him. They also testified that Williams initially placed the gun in the dead man's hands and instructed those present to lie about what happened.

The defense has maintained the shooting was an accident and that Williams panicked afterward...