Former Louisville basketball player Robbie Valentine arrested, charged with strangulation

A member of the Louisville men's basketball team that won the 1986 national championship has been charged with strangulation after a Thursday night arrest.

Robbie Valentine, 59, is accused of choking his girlfriend during an argument at their home, according to a Louisville Metro Police arrest citation. He pleaded not guilty during his first court appearance Friday morning.

In the arrest citation, police said Valentine's girlfriend discussed the idea of moving out while the couple was at dinner Thursday night. When they returned home, the citation said an argument ensued, and Valentine took his girlfriend's phone and "dumped her purse out in the sink."

"(Valentine) later threw her off the bed and began strangling her," the citation says. "The victim has pain/redness to the sides of her neck and bruising to the back of her neck."

Alcohol was listed on the report as having been involved in the incident.

Valentine was first charged with second-degree strangulation, a Class D felony, but according to online court documents, the charge was amended to first degree (a Class C felony) during an arraignment hearing Friday morning.

A $25,000 bond was set, and Valentine on Friday paid the required 10% ($2,500), court documents state. Valentine was ordered to have no contact with the accuser. He is next due in court Feb. 20.

Valentine's attorney, Brian Butler, declined to comment on the case Friday afternoon.

Valentine played at Louisville from 1982 to 1986, helping the Cardinals reach back-to-back Final Four appearances in 1982 and 1983 under head coach Denny Crum and win the NCAA title in 1986. He was teammates with current U of L head coach Kenny Payne from 1985-86.

A native of Radcliff, Kentucky, Valentine has been the senior director of sales for ASM Global, which manages the KFC Yum! Center, since 2010. For decades, he has held a basketball camp for the city's youth during the summer.

ASM Global spokesperson Sandra Moran told The Courier Journal the company cannot comment on personal matters.

Reach recruiting and trending sports reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.