AP source: Jayson Williams taking deal

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Retired NBA star Jayson Williams has cut a plea deal that would send him to prison for up to three years for accidentally shooting a driver at his New Jersey estate in 2002, a person with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Williams, who retired in 2000 after playing nine seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, was to face a retrial in January on a reckless manslaughter count.

The person, who not authorized to speak about the case, told the AP on condition of anonymity that Williams is to plead guilty to aggravated assault on Friday. Because a gun was used in the crime, Williams must serve at least 18 months in prison, the person said.

The plea deal would resolve all charges in the case that dragged out for nearly eight years.

During his 2002 trial, the jury deadlocked on the reckless manslaughter count, acquitted him of aggravated manslaughter and convicted him of covering up the shooting. He was never sentenced for the cover-up counts, pending the outcome of the retrial, and has remained free on bail.

Several messages left for defense attorney Joseph Hayden were not returned Thursday.

Witnesses testified that while showing off a shotgun in his bedroom, Williams snapped the weapon shut and it fired one shot that struck driver Costas Christofi in the chest, killing him. They also testified that Williams initially placed the gun in the dead man's hands and instructed those present in the bedroom to lie about what happened.

The defense has maintained the shooting was an accident and that Williams panicked afterward.