A misdemeanor gun charge against Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden in Texas has been dismissed, according to court records. Harris County Criminal Court Judge Alex Salgado in Houston dismissed the charge Thursday following Harden's completion of an alternative resolution program.
Such programs typically allow defendants to avoid a criminal conviction by fulfilling requirements such as community service. Court documents did not specify the details of Harden's agreement. The dismissal came at the request of the Harris County district attorney’s office.
Harden was arrested on June 13 in Houston after police located a handgun in his vehicle. Under Texas law, possessing a handgun in plain view in a vehicle without a license is a misdemeanor offense, which can carry a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
Neither the district attorney's office nor Harden's attorney in Houston immediately responded to requests for comment. The Cavaliers also did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Harden, 36, concluded his 17th NBA season in May. He averaged 23.6 points per game during the regular season and played in 70 of 82 games. He has expressed a desire to remain with the Cavaliers but declined to exercise a $42.3 million option for the upcoming season, instead seeking a longer contract. A new deal has not yet been finalized.
The guard is an 11-time All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection. He was named MVP for the 2017-18 season while playing for the Houston Rockets, averaging 30.4 points per game. During that season, Harden led the Rockets to the Western Conference finals, where they were defeated by the Golden State Warriors.