By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The legal saga surrounding a street brawl in May 2025 involving Partizan Mozzart Bet players has reached a definitive resolution.
On Friday, the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade officially announced that a plea agreement had been concluded with 28-year-old guard Carlik Jones.
The incident, which took place outside a catering facility on Crnotravska Street, initially triggered a massive investigation after a local man suffered serious bodily injuries. While Jones faced severe criminal charges for inflicting grievous bodily harm, his legal status has now been clarified following a lengthy evidentiary process.
According to the statement from the prosecutor’s office, the Ohio native entered into plea negotiations after authorities reviewed extensive medical documentation, eyewitness testimony, and video recordings of the fight. The court formally accepted the agreement, finding the basketball player guilty and issuing an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for a two-year probationary period. This verdict ensures Jones avoids immediate jail time, aligning with his recent multi-year contract extension through the 2027-28 season, following unrestricted travel and employment with the Serbian powerhouse since the incident.
Meanwhile, teammates Sterling Brown and Isaac Bonga, who were also implicated in the altercation, avoided formal conviction. After consulting with the injured party, the prosecutor’s office ordered both players to pay 300,000 dinars, approximately 2,500 euros, each directly to the victim’s account to have their charges for participating in a fight dropped. A fourth individual involved in the scuffle, identified as HJ, was ordered to pay 100,000 dinars under the same terms.