Will serve two months in jail, pay $300,000 in support

	Ralph Sampson played nine NBA seasons with four teams. Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images
	RELATED •  Sampson faces charges

By Lester Munson, SI.com

Former NBA star Ralph Sampson has agreed to serve two months in jail and pay more than $300,000 in past and future child support, SI.com has learned.

The agreement comes two days before Sampson is scheduled to go on trial to face federal charges of mail fraud, perjury and nonsupport. It concludes a legal saga that began in 2003 when federal authorities charged Sampson with failing to support two of the eight children he has with five women.

Sampson, who was college player of the year for three consecutive seasons at the University of Virginia, is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Richmond on Thursday morning to finalize the settlement.

Sampson's attorney, James Roberts, will ask U.S. District Court Judge James Spencer to delay Sampson's incarceration until the spring of 2007. A portion of the child support money is already on deposit with Roberts's law firm, and Roberts expects Sampson to have the remainder in time for the hearing on Thursday.

Terry Holland, the former Virginia coach who guided Sampson and the Cavaliers to three ACC titles and an appearance in the Final Four, is expected to testify for Sampson.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Flannery confirmed the settlement. Without it, Sampson faced two years in jail and substantial fines.

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