Miles Bridges pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence on Thursday as part of a plea deal in which he’ll avoid jail time.
Bridges, a 24-year-old NBA free agent, was charged with one count of domestic violence and two counts of child abuse in July.
Michelle Johnson, who shares two children with Bridges, posted graphic images days later that showed her face battered and bruised. She said Bridges abused her, resulting in a concussion and other injuries. She said Bridges choked her “until I went to sleep.”
Two charges were dropped in the deal, and Bridges pleaded no contest to domestic violence toward a spouse or other cohabitant, ESPN reported. Johnson’s attorneys said she agreed to the deal.
Bridges will be on probation for three years, according to ESPN. He must complete 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and 52 weeks of parenting classes and serve 100 hours of community service.
The deal also includes a 10-year restraining order that prohibits Bridges from being within 100 yards of Johnson, ESPN reported. Custody exchanges of their two children, Ace Miles and Ayla Marie, must take place through third parties.
Bridges had the best NBA season of his career in 2021-22 and was expected to draw strong interest in free agency. However, the charges were announced days before the signing period opened, and Bridges remains without a team. He could still be suspended by the NBA.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service