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Ex-NBA Referee Tim Donaghy Gets 15 Months in Gambling Case

Posted Jul 29, 2008, 04:31 pm CST
By Martha Neil

Disgraced former professional basketball referee Tim Donaghy was sentenced today to a little over a year in prison after pleading guilty last year in a gambling scheme.

"Fifteen months followed by three years of supervised release is the price Donaghy, 41, must pay after pleading guilty last year to betting on games he officiated and offering up confidential information to two gamblers—James "Baba" Battista and Thomas Martino, both high school classmates from the Philadelphia area," recounts ESPN. "Battista was sentenced last week to 15 months, and Martino to a year."

The sports network's article describes the anguish with which Donaghy's father, also an NBA ref, heard the news of his son's wrongdoing.Yet Gerry Donaghy stood by his son in federal court in Brooklyn today as U.S. District Court Judge Carol Amon sentenced him.

"I thought 15 months is a little harsh for a guy who cooperated like he did," Gerry Donaghy later said. "He thought he'd get the same as Martino—a year."

Donaghy's lawyer had sought probation. He could have gotten as much as 33 months, but Amon said she sentenced him to less in recognition of his cooperation.

Additional coverage:

Associated Press: "NY judge sentences disgraced NBA ref to 15 months"

ESPN: "Donaghy's sentencing raises legal questions"

ABAJournal.com: "Ex-NBA Ref’s Attorney Says League is Ignoring Gambling Issues"

ABAJournal.com: "NBA Refs Lawyer Up in Betting Probe"

ABAJournal.com: "Referee Lawyer Doesn't Judge"

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