Benzino Associates Convicted In Assault Of NBA Player

Two men accused of stabbing Boston Celtic Paul Pierce were found guilty of assault, but were acquitted of the most serious charge, intent to murder. A third man was found not guilty on all charges. Trevor Watson, 35 and William Ragland, 30 and Anthony Hurston, 33, were all facing numerous charges of assault and intent […]

Two men accused of stabbing Boston Celtic Paul

Pierce were found guilty of assault, but were acquitted of the most serious

charge, intent to murder. A third man was found not guilty on all charges.

Trevor Watson, 35 and William Ragland, 30 and

Anthony Hurston, 33, were all facing numerous charges of assault and intent

to murder charges. Watson and Ragland were both found guilty of assault, but

were both acquitted of the intent to murder charge. Hurston was the only one

to walk. All three men claim that the trial was biased due to their affiliation

with The Source co-owner Ray Benzino and the rap group Made Men.

Pierce was stabbed in the face, neck and back

while in the pool room of a nightclub on Sept. 25, 2000.

I’m happy that this has come to an end,"

Pierce said in a statement released to AllHipHop.com. "It was an unfortunate

incident for all involved and I am looking forward to putting it behind me and

focusing my attention on the upcoming season."

Ragland is facing up to 10 years in prison for

the assault with a dangerous weapon conviction and another 2 1/2 years for the

assault and battery. Watson faces 2 1/2 years in prison. Sentencing was scheduled

Friday October 11.

"Paul’s a good dude. He got us caught up

in a situation we had nothing to do with," Hurston said after the verdict

was read. "He’s a victim as much as us."