Deputies: Former NBA player arrested in connection to home invasion

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. - A former NBA player and Atlanta-area high school standout was charged with a frightening home invasion in Coweta County Friday.

FOX 5 News had the only cameras there Friday night as James Edward "JJ" Hickson, Jr. was booked into the Coweta County Jail. He remained quiet and did not answer any questions regarding the charges as deputies led him inside. Deputies said he was charged in connection with a home invasion that happened earlier in the day.

Hickson is from Atlanta and was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008. He most recently played overseas.

Deputies said at least two people were involved in the home invasion, but as of late Friday night, only Hickson faced charges. Investigators said this started around 10:30 a.m. Friday at a home on Rowe Road in Senoia. Authorities said a number of personal items were taken and someone was roughed up during the incident.

“The victim was beat up pretty good and they took some personal items from the residence and at that point in time through the help of a canvass we were able to identify a suspect and a suspect vehicle. We were able to identify a suspect from that,” said Captain John Kennedy, Coweta County Sheriff's Office

The sheriff's office said a home invasion like this is rare in this community.

Investigators with another department in metro Atlanta took Hickson into custody and turned him over to Coweta County.

Hickson's charges include armed robbery in connection with a home invasion. During his first appearance on Saturday afternoon, a Coweta County judge denied bond for Hickson.

Information regarding the victim of the home invasion was not immediately available. Further details have not yet been released by investigators into the alleged crime.