Jayson Williams Pleads Guilty In Limo Driver's Death

Former New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the 2002 death of his limo driver, Costas Christofi, who was killed by a shotgun blast at close range. Williams — who last week was charged with drunk driving after crashing his Mercedes SUV on the FDR — will serve 18 months to five years in prison, and will be eligible for parole in 18 months, NY1 reports.

Williams was facing a retrial on a reckless manslaughter charge — which could have put him behind bars for 10 years — but he pleaded down to an aggravated assault charge. He was expected to take the deal, which carries an 18-month minimum sentence because a gun was involved. According to 1010WINS, Williams told the judge that had not checked the gun's safety before he snapped it closed, firing that shot that killed Christofi. "I didn't look in the direction the muzzle of the gun was pointed,'' said Williams, who has already been acquitted of aggravated manslaughter charges and convicted of trying to cover up the death of his driver.

Williams is due back in court on March 3 for the drunk driving charge. Last spring, Williams was found acting "suicidal" and "violent" in a Manhattan hotel and police were forced to use a Taser and two sets of handcuffs to restrain the former NBA player.