The trio were detained Tuesday after allegedly shoplifting from a Louis Vuitton store next to the hotel where UCLA is staying ahead of its season opener Friday against Georgia Tech. The most notable of the players is Ball, the younger brother of former UCLA star (and current Los Angeles Lakers rookie) Lonzo Ball and son of LaVar Ball.
LaVar Ball, who had planned a press conference but canceled it on the advice of his legal counsel, released the following statement:
"It is a very unfortunate situation that the Ball Family, and UCLA has to deal with at this particular time. We will comment shortly," he said, per ESPN's Arash Markazi.
LaVar Ball statement on the LiAngelo Ball shoplifting allegations: "It is a very unfortunate situation that the Ball Family, and UCLA has to deal with at this particular time. We will comment shortly."
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) November 8, 2017
William Nee, a Hong Kong-based researcher for Amnesty International, told Wetzel that those detained for crimes in China could "be detained for more than a month without American-style bail before local prosecutors even decide whether to press charges." Nee added that the United States consulate could intervene to try and negotiate a quicker resolution to the case.
Nee added that the charges could also be greatly reduced and thus warrant a much more lenient sentence.
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