Memphis basketball player Sincere Parker's attorney: Alleged victim was 'primary aggressor'

Items to support Memphis basketball guard Sincere Parker's defense against allegations of aggravated assault made by his ex-girlfriend were turned over to prosecutors July 29 following a scheduled set for report hearing.

As a result, the hearing was reset for 9 a.m. Sept. 4.

Parker was arrested July 19 and charged with aggravated assault and vandalism, then released July 21 on $75,000 bond. He was briefly back in the courtroom on July 29 with his attorney, Arthur "Art" Horne. Approximately 15 minutes later, they convened briefly outside the courtroom, then Parker left.

Horne told reporters afterward that he submitted multiple items of “reciprocal discovery” to the district attorney and the assistant district attorney. Among the items turned over were photographs of injuries Parker sustained during the incident, which allegedly took place at his downtown Memphis apartment on May 27, “things that were vandalized” by the alleged victim “and a picture of the scene.”  

“We feel like she was the primary aggressor. If you look at the affidavit, she tries to paint him as some violent individual who goes through her phone, gets upset (and) roughs her up,” Horne said. “I think it was the opposite. I think she went through his phone, she got upset and started vandalizing his property – vandalizing his apartment, which we have proof of – and was injured when she fell.

"We feel like, 1, he had a right to defend himself. And, 2, he had a right to remove somebody from his property who was destroying and vandalizing his property. We don’t feel like she communicated her role in it to the police, and we weren't able to come in and give our side of the story."

Parker transferred to the Tigers in April from McNeese State.

Parker's accuser first reported the incident to police June 12, according to the affidavit. She met with police again on July 15.

"There are some other things that happened between the incident itself and then her reporting this to police," Horne said. "You guys can kind of read in between the lines. Threats were made."

He declined to go into more specific detail.

Horne said the best-case scenario is Parker's charges get dropped. Horne added he does not expect a resolution prior to the next hearing on Sept. 4, but they are hopeful for one prior to the start of the Tigers' season. Memphis' full schedule has not yet been announced, but the regular-season opener is expected to be Nov. 8 against San Francisco at FedExForum.

Once Parker bonded out of Shelby County Jail, he resumed offseason workout activities with the Memphis basketball team. The school issued a statement on July 19, saying it was aware of the situation and said it "cannot comment on an active investigation."

Horne said he expects Parker will remain on the roster, adding Parker will likely address the situation once it is resolved.

"He’s dealing with it. It’s embarrassing. A lot of shame," said Horne. "A lot of guilt – not guilt from doing anything, but the same and guilt of national media covering this. It’s embarrassing. He’s a 21-year-old. It’s tough. (But) he understands the seriousness."

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.