justin williams

SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento Kings reserve center Justin Williams and his girlfriend had consensual sex with a woman who is accusing him of sexual assault, his attorney said Saturday.

"In no way, shape or form did anything wrong happen," William Portanova said in a telephone interview. "Unequivocally, 100 percent, nothing wrong."

Williams has not been charged and is cooperating with authorities, according to police department spokesman Sgt. Matt Young.

Williams and the woman were introduced by friends the night of Oct. 11 at a gathering at a local restaurant and night club, Portanova said. After the club closed, the party moved to another person's house and then to Williams' home, with the number of people involved dwindling as the night went on.

Eventually, Williams, his girlfriend and the woman were alone in a bedroom at Williams' home and had consensual sex, Portanova said.

Police announced Thursday they were investigating allegations that Williams had sexually assaulted a woman. They said they were notified by a local hospital on the morning of Oct. 12 that a woman in her 20s had reported being sexually assaulted by Williams.

Officers searched Williams' home Wednesday night and removed items that were being evaluated as potential evidence, Young said.

No charges have been filed against Williams or his girlfriend, and Portanova said he didn't expect that any would be filed.

"The case will be declined because the evidence is simply not there," Portanova said. "The evidence is simply not there because the crime simply didn't happen."

He suggested the woman made up the allegations because Williams is a "tall, handsome, rich NBA up-and-comer."

Williams, 23, is in his second season with the Kings and averaged five points in 26 games last season. He was signed as a free agent in 2006 after playing his final two years of college ball at Wyoming.

Williams was given an indefinite leave of absence from the team on Thursday after police announced the investigation.

Portanova also represented another King, Ron Artest, after the forward was accused of grabbing, pushing and slapping his wife during an argument earlier this year.

Artest pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in March and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a 10-day work project. He also was fined $600 and ordered to get extensive counseling.

Justin Williams' lawyer told The Bee the threesome which has sunk the King in legal trouble was completely consensual. He also says he has proof. Which could very well mean...

Justin Williams Sex Tape.

The quote in question:


"The truth is nothing happened that night that was not consensual, and we have proof of it," Portanova said. "While some people may find it distasteful to think about it, it's a reality of 21st-century life."

Are threesomes a reality of 21st-century life? Or is proof of threesomes (presumably video, maybe some sort of awkward contract) a reality of 21st-century life?
You know, it feels like the case has been significantly deflated. We shouldn't assume it's going away, though. One thing that does seem almost certain based on the twists: the King aren't cutting Justin. They have to be confident he'll beat this rap (though I'm sure it's more important to them, as to us, that he's innocent of wrongdoing).
If anything should have been learned from the recent Duke lacrosse scandal, in which three players were accused and later exonerated of rape, it is this: Athletes are entitled to the same legal protections as everyone else.

The cautionary centuries-old principle of innocent until proven guilty applies to Justin Williams, too, and as of late Thursday, the Kings reserve forward had been charged with nothing more than having lousy form at the foul line.

Yet while the investigation continues into a sexual assault that allegedly occurred at Williams' Natomas home early last Friday � and noting that the NFL and Major League Baseball routinely confront similar player behavior issues � it certainly seems fair to ask if the NBA and the Kings are doing everything possible to prevent these types of situations.

You have to wonder.

You have to suspect ... not.

Whether owed to circumstance or inertia, a troubling pattern seems to have emerged. Within the past 13 months, former coach Eric Musselman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, and veteran forward Ron Artest was cited for animal neglect and, weeks later, charged with misdemeanor domestic violence at his Placer County home.

Not to suggest that the Kings should somehow legislate morality or start a baby-sitting service for the off hours. There can be no denying that as players increasingly enter the professional ranks at a younger age and with a bloated sense of entitlement, the leagues and their individual organizations assume a greater sense of responsibility.

Fans don't want to pay to watch criminals. Communities don't embrace creeps.

So what do you do? You realize that twentysomething millionaires are immature and, because of their celebrity and higher-than-average earnings, are far more apt to get into trouble. Legal trouble. Life trouble.

The NBA can cite its annual, weeklong rookie-orientation seminars that have been in effect for more than a decade now, as well as mandatory meetings it conducts with each team twice a year, but league vice president of player development Mike Bantom concedes that this is inadequate. Because of the increasing number of young players entering the league, individual franchises are being asked to become more involved. They need to be more responsible for mentoring, monitoring and educating players on a wide range of issues relating to health, finances and substance abuse.

In essence, the Geoff Petries and Larry Birds and Chris Mullins of the world are being asked to school youngsters about their personal and professional demeanors while filling the seats and winning championships. Somewhat inexplicably, though, especially given the heightened scrutiny in a market of Sacramento's size, Bantom suggests the Kings have been more resistant than other clubs to the league's overtures. Only within the past several months has an in-house player development position been added � initially filled by Harold Pressley and, subsequently, Fat Lever.

"When you have a strong team culture, whether it comes from the general manager or the coach, it's a lot easier to get guys to conform and understand what it takes to be a professional," Bantom said from his office in New York. "Guys buy into it. (But) the Kings just got on board with this a year ago. They were one of the last teams to really buy into the concept."

Contacted while with the team last night in Albuquerque, N.M., Kings basketball president Petrie adamantly disagreed. He also insisted that within pro sports, the Kings' collective behavior is no better or worse than that of other teams.

"Until Ron's (Artest) situation, how many really bad situations did we have?" Petrie asked rhetorically, his agitation evident. "No team is perfect. If you're going to paint a picture that we're a lot different than other teams, I don't agree with that assessment. We're not running a police state here."

On that point, there should be no disagreement. But if the Kings in fact have lagged behind their peers, have been permissive parents too willing to avert their eyes, this is the time to get with the program.

Reggie Theus' curfew ultimately might prove to be a crazy, unrealistic policy, but it sends a message. It certainly can't hurt.