Matt Barnes has surrendered himself to the New York Police Department, according to Larry Celona of the New York Post.
Barnes’ surrender comes nearly two months after a nightclub incident in which he and teammate DeMarcus Cousins were reportedly involved in a brawl. The Sacramento Kings forward has been known for his tough on-court behavior and occasional off-court transgressions.
Barnes has always maintained that the fight stemmed from self-defense and will now have the opportunity to testify as such. According to the NYP, he was issued a misdemeanor assault ticket and released without bail. He will have to appear in court in Manhattan later. It was reported earlier that Cousins would likely not be charged.
The Kings forward is having a poor season on the court as well. He is averaging only 7.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while playing over 24 minutes. He is shooting 36.8 percent from the field, by far the worst mark of his career.
Barnes’ lawyer has continued to claim that his client is innocent in the case. He was accused of choking a woman and punching her boyfriend.
It’s unclear when Matt Barnes’ court appearance will be, if there will indeed be one. We will keep updating you as more details emerge.
