WNBA’s Riquna Williams arrested on felony home violence expenses in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas Aces guard Riquna Williams, a veteran WNBA participant and member of final 12 months’s championship staff, has been accused of felony home violence involving an individual authorities say is her partner.

A choose on Wednesday allowed Williams, 33, to be free of jail with out bail lower than a day after her arrest, however mentioned she will haven’t any contact together with her alleged sufferer and should adjust to alcohol monitoring pending one other courtroom look Aug. 2.

Williams faces 5 felony expenses together with a number of counts of home battery by strangulation, coercion with the risk or use of bodily drive and assault with use of a weapon, in response to courtroom information. She additionally faces 4 misdemeanor home battery expenses.

Williams, a taking pictures guard and on-court role-player nicknamed “Bay Bay,” averaged 6.7 factors final season however has not performed in the course of the present season resulting from a again harm.

She stood silently in shackles behind safety glass throughout her preliminary look in Las Vegas Justice Court.

Her public defender, Ryan Bashor, advised the choose that Williams has lived in Nevada for 5 years and “there should be no issue with a no-contact order” for the reason that particular person Williams is accused of attacking “is in the process or has already relocated” out of the home.

Prosecutor Glen O’Brien cited what he referred to as “violence and damage to the victim” however didn’t determine the particular person. It was not clear if the particular person was injured or required medical remedy.

Justice of the Peace Rebecca Saxe famous that the costs stemmed from acts that police mentioned “occurred over an extended period of time.”

O’Brien remained in courtroom and didn’t reply to an electronic mail looking for element concerning the Williams‘ case and the weapon that police mentioned was concerned.

Police responded about midday Tuesday to a name at a house within the upscale Southern Highlands enclave south of the Las Vegas Strip. An arrest report was not instantly launched.

Williams confronted league self-discipline in 2019 – a 10-game suspension with out pay, or about one-third of the season – after an arrest on domestic-battery expenses. She was taking part in for the Los Angeles Sparks on the time.

Among different elements, the league mentioned it took under consideration the character and seriousness of the allegations, together with involvement of a gun.

Bashor and Saxe mentioned Wednesday that Williams had no felony convictions.

Williams performed for the University of Miami earlier than she was drafted in 2012 by the Tulsa Shock. She additionally has performed professionally abroad.

The Aces are scheduled to play in Dallas on Sunday and had been touring Wednesday. Team spokesperson John Maxwell didn’t instantly reply to an electronic mail from The Associated Press about Williams’ arrest.

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Associated Press sports author Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this report.