LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Robbie Valentine, the former University of Louisville men’s basketball player and community leader, is under arrest and charged with strangulation. At his arraignment Friday, the charge was upgraded from strangulation 2nd degree to 1st degree.

What You Need To Know

  •  Robbie Valentine arrested and charged with 1st degree strangulation

  •  He and his girlfriend got into an argument

  •  Valentine sponsors youth basketball camps regularly

  • He was a member of the 1986 National Championship team for UofL

According to the arrest citation, Valentine and his girlfriend had gone out to dinner. The report says the woman wanted to talk about moving out. When the pair returned home, they argued and Valentine allegedly took her phone and dumped her purse in the sink. The citation says Valentine threw the woman off the bed and began strangling her. The citation says the woman’s neck was red and had bruising.

Valentine and his attorney Brian Butler, appeared in court Friday and entered a plea of not guilty. Valentine has been ordered to have no contact with his girlfriend. They set his bond at $25,000.

Valentine, according to his LinkedIn profile, is currently the senior director of sales for AEG, based out of the KFC Yum! Center here in Louisville. He’s also a longtime community leader who sponsors yearly basketball camps for children.

Valentine played for legendary Hall of Fame basketball coach Denny Crum and was a member of the 1986 National Championship team.

If convicted of the strangulation 1st degree charge, which is a Class C felony in Kentucky, he could face five to ten years in prison. Valentine's preliminary hearing is set for for Monday, Feb. 20.