Rockets G Alston found not guilty on DUI charge

Oct 25, 2008 - 3:53 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Houston Rockets point guard Rafer Alston was acquitted on charges of driving while intoxicated on Friday, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle.

It took a jury almost an hour to find Alston not guilty of the charge, which stemmed from his arrest on August 7.

Alston, 32, was arrested about 3 a.m. after a Houston Police officer noticed he also was driving without his headlights on, according to the report. Initial police reports also indicated that Alston made an erratic lane change, but police officers testified that Alston was not driving unusually.

The newspaper reported that Alston told police he had "three or four" drinks in an hour and a half before leaving the club Pandora. His attorney, Rusty Hardin, told jurors during closing arguments that a valet turned off the automatic lights on Alston's Aston Martin.

He added that Alston didn't overreact to questions posed by the arresting officer, but said Alston "locked up" and refused to talk, forcing police to charge him.

A former playground legend, Alston averaged 13.1 points and 5.3 assists in 74 games last season. Alston and the Rockets open the season at home on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies.