It's over: Jackson pleads guilty in strip club case

INDIANAPOLIS -- Stephen Jackson pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony count of criminal recklessness for firing a gun outside a strip club last fall and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

Misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct were dismissed as part of the agreement with prosecutors, and a judge added a year of probation to Jackson's sentence.

Jackson, whom the Indiana Pacers traded to the Golden State Warriors in January, said after the brief court appearance that he would have done the community service anyway.

"Community service has always been a part of my life," he said.

But prosecutors intend the work to be punishment, which is why they chose the community center Christamore House for Jackson.

David Wyser, Marion County's chief trial deputy prosecutor, said he was confident that Christamore's director, Olgen Williams, "will ensure that Mr. Jackson performs his community hours doing work of cleaning, of painting, whatever it is he has to do as opposed to helping youths play basketball, something he enjoys doing."

Stephen Jackson is 'ready to move on' after misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct are dismissed. (AP)

Williams said the center, located in a lower-income neighborhood just west of the city's downtown, works with people performing community service every day and that Jackson might clean restrooms, shovel mulch, move furniture or plant flowers, among many possible tasks.

"I'm not going to put him down in the gym playing basketball," he said. "He may be in the gym, but he'll be in there sweeping."

Jackson was charged in connection with the Oct. 6 fracas outside Indianapolis' Club Rio. He told police he fired shots in the air from his 9mm pistol to try to break up a fight.

In February, Deon Willford, who hit Jackson with a car during the incident, was convicted of felony battery and sentenced to two years in prison, two years on probation and 100 hours community service.

Willford hit Jackson with his car after the fight started. He claimed self defense at his trial, testifying that Jackson was walking toward his car and pointing a gun at him. But other witnesses said Jackson was walking away from Willford's car and had no weapon out when he was hit.

Jackson chipped some teeth that night and underwent plastic surgery on his lip.

The fight started after Willford's cousin got into an argument with a group of people who accompanied Jackson to the club. That group included current Pacers Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels, who were not charged.