ADEL, Iowa -- A judge split the difference on Pierre Pierce's plans to
prepare for the NBA draft, ruling Friday that Pierce could leave the state to
attend a camp in Chicago next month but would not be allowed to move to
California to train for the draft.
Pierce, a former University of Iowa basketball player who faces four
criminal charges from a January incident involving a former girlfriend, had
been barred from leaving Iowa under pretrial release conditions.
Dallas County District Judge Gregory Hulse relaxed some of those
restrictions after Pierce sought permission to move to Los Angeles to begin
training with his agent, and then travel to Chicago to take part in an NBA camp
prior to the June 28 draft.
Prosecutors fought the request and asked Hulse to revoke the bond, saying
Pierce's past behavior proved he could not be trusted to leave Iowa and the
supervision of corrections officials.
Last month, Pierce admitted making 84 telephone calls to the alleged victim
on March 25 and 29 using a stolen cell phone, violating the judge's no contact
order. Earlier this week, prosecutors presented new evidence showing Pierce
made 239 additional calls to the woman, also using cell phones that were not
his.
In his ruling Friday, Hulse denied the motion to revoke bond and but gave
Pierce a chance to pursue a professional career.
He cited Pierce's repeated attempts to contact the woman and concerns about
overseeing his actions from afar in denying the move to California.
''Past behavior is a better predictor of future conduct than empty
promises,'' Hulse said. ''There is no way to supervise ... if he is allowed to
leave the state of Iowa.''
Hulse also placed conditions on Pierce's behavior in Chicago. If invited to
the camp, Hulse said Pierce must live with his parents in Westmont, Ill.,
submit a detailed plan for his supervision, return to Iowa once the camp ends
and post a $30,000 bond.
''We are a little disappointed,'' Pierce's attorney Alfredo Parrish said
after the hearing. ''But obviously they are giving him a shot to make the NBA.
We'll work within this framework.''
Pierce, 21, is charged with burglary, criminal mischief and assault with
intent to commit sexual abuse in a Jan. 27 incident at the West Des Moines home
of his former girlfriend.
Days later, Pierce, a team captain and its leading scorer, was kicked off
the team by Iowa coach Stave Alford.
Trial is scheduled for Aug. 16. If convicted, he could face up to 56 years
in prison.
Last week, Pierce graduated and hired California-based agent Todd Ramasar,
who represents three NBA players.
Ramasar testified Friday via teleconference that it was crucial for players
like Pierce, an underclassman with a year of college eligibility remaining, to
take part in intense workouts and meet scouts before the draft.
He also said Pierce would live at the home of an associate and be closely
monitored by his staff in Los Angeles.
Last month, Hulse placed tighter restrictions on Pierce after he admitted to
making 84 calls to the woman. The judge barred him from traveling to Des Moines
and West Des Moines and requiring him to comply with a telephone monitoring
system.
Prosecutors then discovered the additional calls Pierce made on cell phones
they say were taken from bars in Iowa City.
Pierce admitted Friday to making some of the calls.
''I thought we could reconcile the situation ... and move on,'' Pierce said
on the stand. ''We've always had a way of settling things. I know I was wrong
for calling.''