Published: March 08, 2007 10:09 am      

Clark faces felony charges for car damage

Former NBA star’s hearing set for March 29

Staff report — A former professional basketball player is accused of damaging the car the city confiscated from him.

Keon Clark, 31, of the 300 block of Poland Road, was arraigned in Vermilion County Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon on a felony charge of criminal damage to property.

Public Safety Deputy Director Doug Miller said the paint was scratched on the car, a 2003 Mercedes Benz, while it was parked and unattended on the west side of town.

The scratches, discovered Sept. 21, left more than $300 in damage to the vehicle, according to the charges.

The car was confiscated by city police following a traffic stop about a year earlier.

Wednesday’s charge was the second felony charge of the day for Clark, who also was charged with aggravated driving after a suspended license. He is accused of driving following suspension convictions in 2005 and 2006.

A preliminary hearing on the charges is set for March 29.

Clark played for Danville High School and for several years in the NBA, including for the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors.

In August, the Commercial-News reported Public Safety Director Carl Alexander was driving the Mercedes confiscated from Clark in September 2005.

The vehicle was awarded to the city after Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act court proceedings.