Ty Lawson Violated Probation After Testing Positive for Alcohol

Sacramento Kings guard Ty Lawson broke his probation after testing positive for alcohol three times over the past seven months, according to TMZ Sports.

Lawson now has a court date on March 22, per TMZ, and officials reportedly want the judge to hit him with harsher penalties, potentially including jail time. If Lawson misses that court appearance, a warrant will be issued for his arrest.

Lawson's attorney released a statement regarding the TMZ report, per Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee: "Reports that there is a warrant out for Mr. Lawson's arrest are incorrect. On March 22, 2016 the court reset this matter for March 22, 2017 to review Mr. Lawson's probation status. All related matters will be reviewed by the court at that time." 

Lawson was put on probation for a year in March 2016 after his fourth DUI arrest in 2015.

"You have a terrible history," Judge Olympia Z. Fay told Lawson at sentencing last year, per Tom McGhee of the Denver Post. "You are going down a bad path."

Given that history, prosecutor Chris Curtis sought a 45-day jail sentence at the time.

"What does it take to get Ty Lawson to stop doing this?" Curtis asked at the time. "What happens when the next DUI ends with a car crash? People will ask, 'Why didn't he have any consequences?'"

The terms of his probation included not using alcohol or marijuana, completing 48 hours of community service, 52 hours of therapy and undergoing drug tests. 

Lawson would also likely have his probation revoked if he tested positive for alcohol on multiple occasions, which could lead to jail time.

Lawson, 29, has appeared in 57 games for the Kings this season, averaging 9.3 points, 4.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game.