ARIZONA NEWS
Former NAZ Suns assistant arrested for child molestation before death
Jul 11, 2018, 5:01 PM | Updated: Jul 12, 2018, 8:07 am
In this 2001 file photo, UCLA's Billy Knight celebrates after making a shot. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
PHOENIX — A former assistant with the Phoenix Suns’ organization who was found dead in Phoenix over the weekend was arrested last month for allegedly molesting his ex-girlfriend’s 9-year-old daughter.
Court documents showed that William “Billy” Price Knight, a former UCLA basketball player and basketball operations assistant for the Northern Arizona Suns, was arrested in Tempe on June 13 on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of sexual abuse and two counts of child molestation.
The girl told police that Knight allegedly touched and licked her genitals and breasts on multiple occasions. Knight also allegedly forced the victim to touch his genitals, the court documents said.
The allegations were first made from the victim to a mentor, who told the victim’s mother, who then contacted the Phoenix Police Department.
Knight allegedly admitted to the allegations during a recorded phone call with the victim’s mother and Phoenix police.
He posted his $100,000 bail and was released from custody in June, according to TMZ, but was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device.
TMZ also reported that the victim’s mother told cops that Knight “violated the terms of his release by contacting her several times and even appearing at her home.”
Knight was found dead early Sunday in downtown Phoenix after posting an apparent farewell video online.
Phoenix police said Knight was located in the roadway in the area of Central Avenue and McKinley Street at 2:45 a.m.
There was no evidence of foul play, police said. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner was working to determine the cause of death.
Earlier Sunday, TMZ reported, Knight posted a six-minute video to YouTube that was an apparent suicide note.
In the video titled “Billy Knight ‘I am Sorry Lord’,” Knight talked to the camera, saying it was his “last message on Earth” and “I can’t continue on.”
Knight was due back in court on Thursday for the oral argument in the child molestation case.
