Former NBA forward Lamar Odom is fighting the case against him in Las Vegas, with his attorney entering a not guilty plea on his behalf in Las Vegas Justice Court and locking in a July 7 court date.
Odom skipped the Tuesday arraignment and let his lawyer handle the courtroom work. Attorney Kevin Coburn waived the formal reading of the criminal complaint, entered the not guilty plea, and asked the judge for a bench trial, according to KSNV. The judge then set the next hearing for July 7.
The case goes back to a mid-January traffic stop on northbound Interstate 15, where Nevada Highway Patrol troopers say a Dodge Durango driven by Odom was flying down the freeway at extremely high speed. A trooper’s report says his patrol car hit 110 mph while he tried to catch up to the SUV, as reported by the Las Vegas Review‑Journal.
Prosecutors later filed a criminal complaint charging Odom with driving under the influence, speeding 41 miles per hour or more over the posted limit, and failing to maintain his travel lane, according to The Associated Press.
Once troopers pulled the vehicle over, officers reported an “overwhelming odor of marijuana” coming from inside. Odom first denied smoking or drinking, then told officers he “might have used marijuana hours earlier,” KSNV reported. The station also notes that Odom was not held in custody after he was booked.
What the charges mean
Under Nevada law, a first-offense misdemeanor DUI can carry up to six months in jail, fines, and mandatory alcohol or drug education, as outlined in state statute at NRS Chapter 484C. Judges can also order community service, treatment programs, or ignition-interlock devices, depending on the specifics of the case. Separate traffic counts for high-speed driving and lane violations can add more fines and factor into plea talks or sentencing.
Odom, a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, has a well-documented history of substance issues. He previously faced a 2013 DUI case in California and suffered a 2015 medical emergency in Nevada, background noted by The Associated Press. Those prior incidents are likely to hang in the air as this latest case moves through the Las Vegas Justice Court, even if they are not part of the formal charges.
With the defense opting for a bench trial instead of a jury, the case will now move into the slower grind of pretrial scheduling, discovery, and motions. The July 7 hearing is the next big date on the calendar. Until then, Odom remains free under the conditions set after his January booking and is due back in court on that July date.
