Bouknight applies for rehab program
James Bouknight has applied to be enrolled in an accelerated pretrial rehabilitation program, stemming from charges resulting from an oncampus incident on Sept. 27, according to attorney Rob Britt. His case has been continued until Nov. 18.
The program is a court diversionary program that, if Bouknight were to successfully complete on time, could get his charges dismissed. A judge will determine on Nov. 18 whether or not he is an appropriate candidate for the program. Last week, Bouknight, a UConn freshman guard, was charged by campus police with evading responsibility, interfering with a police officer, traveling too fast for conditions and operating a motor vehicle without a license after a Sept. 27 incident.
According to an arrest warrant released a couple of days after he was charged, Bouknight crashed a darkcolored, fourdoor Audi sedan that belonged to a female UConn student into both a street sign and the back of a 2004 Toyota Sequoia in the earlymorning hours of Sept. 27. Officer Gary Bourgoin “detected an odor of alcoholic beverage” emitting from Bouknight when he pulled him over shortly after the crash. He also noted that Bouknight had trouble fumbling the car keys as he tried to start the car after being pulled over.
The female student, whose name has been redacted from the warrant, told officers on the night of the incident that she had not given anyone permission to use her vehicle. However, in a Miranda statement taken more than two weeks later on Oct. 14, the woman said she couldn’t remember whether or not she gave Bouknight permission to use the car, based on her intoxication, and didn’t want criminal charges brought against him — though did want to be paid for the damages.
UConn released the information to the media on Oct. 22, and head coach Dan Hurley expressed disappointment in Bouknight , a highlytouted guard, and noted that he has been punished inhouse by the team — though Bouknight did participate in the team’s First Night festivities on Oct. 18. Hurley hasn’t decided yet what further punishment Bouknight might face, but noted a decision will be coming soon. Bouknight did not play in a closeddoor scrimmage at Harvard on Friday. UConn plays an exhibition game against St. Michael’s on Tuesday at XL Center, and begins its regular season on Nov. 8 against Sacred Heart at Gampel Pavilion.
“Just stay in the fight, continue to grow,” redshirt junior Alterique Gilbert said of his advice to Bouknight. “Just use it as a learning experience. He’s a young guy, I’m pretty sure he won’t make that same mistake again going forward. He’ll be fine.”
According to the arrest warrant, Bourgoin noticed the car Bouknight was driving at a high rate of speed traveling east on Royce Circle at around 1:32 a.m. on Sept. 27, then heard the sound of screeching tires and observed the car collide with a street sign. It also appeared to hit the second vehicle, which bore a New York license plate.
Bouknight was pulled over, and the officer noted the smell of alcohol as he approached him. Bouknight exited the car and ran away from the officer.
When officers questioned the owner of the vehicle later that morning, she said that she had left her car keys on her kitchen counter during a party, and that someone must have taken them without her permission. According to the warrant, she told officers that more than one member of the men’s basketball team was at her party.
At about 4:48 a.m., Bourgoin returned to the grounds of E.O. Smith High School, across the street from where Bouknight had evaded the officer, and found a black sweatshirt identical to the one Bouknight had been wearing. Upon reviewing the UConn men’s basketball team roster on UConnHuskies.com, the suspect was identified as Bouknight.
Bourgoin attempted to locate Bouknight at his listed campus address, and reach him by cell phone, but had no luck. Security cameras and key swipes later pieced together abundant evidence that Bouknight was the person they were looking for.
Later that day, Britt, who has represented several UConn athletes in the past, contacted State’s Attorney Matthew Gedansky to inform him that Bouknight was willing to cooperate with the investigation and fully admit to his involvement in the incident.
On Oct. 3, Bouknight and Britt provided a prearranged Miranda statement to UConn police, stating that he was “startled and panicked” as a result of the collision, causing him to leave the scene. He also stated he had received permission to use the car.