NEVADA — The latest saga involving Kenny Pratt and Ames police came to a close Thursday morning in Story County District Court.

Pratt, an Iowa State basketball forward, was sentenced to four days in jail and $600 in fines. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges of reckless driving, assault of a police officer and interference with official acts. Lawyers for the case reached a plea bargain sometime Wednesday or Thursday morning. The original charges were drunken driving, serious assault of a police officer causing injury and interference with official acts.

Judge Steven Van Marel followed Story County Attorney Mary Richards’ recommended sentence. He handed Pratt a fine of $100 plus a surcharge and costs for reckless driving. For the assault charge, Pratt, a senior from Chicago, was sentenced to two days in jail and fined $250 with a 30 percent surcharge. He also received two days in jail and a $250 fine with a 30 percent surcharge for the interference charge.

A charge of harassing a police officer was dropped. Police said Pratt shouted at Officer David Schultz and spat in his face on the night of Dec. 28.

Pratt must serve four consecutive days in jail before June 20. His lawyer had asked that he be able to serve the time after he graduates on June 10. He has 120 days to pay the fines.

Pratt spoke to the court before his sentencing and thanked the judge for being “very fair.”

“Like I said all along to the people in Ames, I wasn’t drinking when I was driving, but I take full responsibility for the actions when I was arrested,” he said.

Van Marel based his rulings on written testimony and affidavits. No witnesses testified Thursday.

Pratt was charged in connection to a confrontation with Ames police Dec. 28. Police reports stated that a car owned by Jessica Lee Geisler of Perry collided with Pratt’s rented 1997 Pontiac Grand Am at the corner of Lincoln Way and Dakota Avenue about 7:30 p.m. The judge read reports from the incident, saying Pratt was driving between 55 and 60 mph while Geisler was driving between 7 and 11 mph.

Police officers said Pratt failed a Breathalyzer test at the scene, and he refused a breath test at the station.

Pratt allegedly kicked Ames Officer Rory Echer, knocking one of his teeth loose.

On Wednesday, Van Marel ruled that the results of the Breathalyzer test on the scene were inadmissible. Pratt has said he failed the test because he had taken a liquid cold medicine.

Jerry Crawford, a Des Moines lawyer who represented Pratt, asked Van Marel to consider the actions of the Ames police in connection to a charge of sexual assault from two years ago. Then, Pratt was found not guilty of sexual assault.

“It’s fair to say that this is a case where every single allegation has been contested by both sides,” Crawford said. “It would be unfair if the court did not consider the anger in the process.”

Crawford also asked Van Marel to consider that Pratt is the only starter on the basketball team who is graduating at the end of the semester and that both of Pratt’s parents are deceased. Pratt’s mother died while he was attending Taft High School in Chicago and his father died while he was at the College of Eastern Utah.

Crawford said the purpose of a sentence is for “getting the defendant’s attention. In this case, the court has got the defendant’s attention.”

He said the attention the media have given the case made an impression on Pratt. “We do not believe any rehabilitation will be served by jail time,” Crawford said.

Van Marel told Pratt that he has a possibility of a promising future after his graduation. The judge said he hopes the sentence will teach Pratt to make “mature and responsible decisions.”

“Obviously, you did not make responsible decisions on Dec. 28 of last year,” Van Marel told Pratt. “I think that four days in jail will press upon you about how serious these charges are.”

Richards said she was pleased with the sentence. “I think that it’s quite appropriate, as the judge said.”

Ames Police Chief Dennis Ballantine said the police department holds no animosity toward a Pratt. However, he did say department officials wanted the case to go to trial.

“We are not particularly upset with Kenny Pratt. We deal almost daily with young people who get involved in certain situations and make bad decisions. We wish him the best of luck in the future,” he said. “However, we are very disappointed that there will not be a trial. His attorney made highly publicized accusations that are exaggerated and incorrect, and we were looking forward to the trial to prove that those were wrong.”

ISU Coach Tim Floyd arrived at the courthouse shortly after Pratt left. Floyd, who just finished his third year as coach, said he thought the trial was in Ames. “I thought we did everything over in Ames. We haven’t had a lot of these situations,” he said.

Floyd said he wanted to support Pratt because of his family situation. “I would have preferred to be here to give him some sort of support,” he said. “I’m glad it’s been brought to a conclusion and Kenny can now continue to work on his diploma and move on with his life.”