The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Bouknight accepted into rehab program
ROCKVILLE — UConn freshman James Bouknight has been accepted into an accelerated rehabilitation program and that could have charges stemming from a Sept. 27, oncampus vehicular incident dropped in a year.
Bouknight must make restitution for the damage he incurred after crashing someone else’s car into a street sign by Dec. 31 and remain out of trouble for another year. If he is able to do that, charges will be dismissed. He will not have to perform any community service.
“We greatly appreciate the court’s wisdom and discretion in granting this program for James,” his attorney, Rob Britt, said on Monday at Rockville Superior Court. “It’s an ongoing learning experience for him.”
Bouknight, 19, has been
suspended from playing in UConn’s first three games this season. Barring anything unforeseen, the 6foot4 athletic guard will be eligible to play on Thursday night, when the Huskies face Buffalo in a Charleston Classic game.
“I’m extremely sorry about what happened,” Bouknight said to reporters on Monday. “I’m learning from this. I’m learning I need to be the best student, best athlete and the best citizen I can be.”
In the wee hours of Sept. 27, Bouknight grabbed the
keys to a car that belonged to an acquaintance at an oncampus party and was witnessed by a police officer speeding, then crashing the car into a street sign and another vehicle. After being questioned by the officer, Bouknight could not produce a driver’s license, then ran away from the scene.
Later that morning, according to Britt, Bouknight contacted the attorney and wanted to admit to his mistakes.
Appearing before Superior Court judge Hope Seeley, Bouknight apologized to the car’s owner (who also wrote a letter to the judge that was provided by Britt) and her parents, as well as his
own family, teammates and coaches.
“I made a terrible mistake,” he said. “I’ve got to make better decisions.”
Britt told the judge that UConn police were “very appreciative” that Bouknight came forward as soon as he did to ease their investigation into the incident. He suggested to Seeley that that fact, along with the fact that Bouknight has no criminal record and that his crimes weren’t too serious, warranted that he be placed into the rehab program.
Ultimately, Seeley agreed. “James is different than a lot of people sitting in the courtroom in that his case has gotten a lot of negative exposure,” Britt later told reporters. “That’s been a factor in his life. Again, this is going to be an ongoing learning experience for him. It’s not just something that he can move past. He carries it with him, and I don’t think that’s the worst thing in the world.”
Bouknight figures to give a big boost to the Huskies, who are 21 and fresh off a win over No. 15 Florida on Sunday. A fourstar recruit, Bouknight may already be the team’s best pure scorer, according to those around the program.