Billy Knight allegedly sexually abused 9-year-old

Phoenix : Former professional basketball player Billy Knight was arrested on the charge of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl in June before he died.

In the weeks before Knight killed himself, the player was arrested here on June 13 and charged with six felonies for sexual encounters involving a girl under the age of 15, reports TMZ.

Prosecutors in Maricopa County had charged Knight with multiple counts of sexual conduct with a minor, sexual abuse and molestation of a child.

In the documents produced in the court, prosecutors said some of the abuse took place at the victim's home and on her mother's bed.

Arizona is particularly tough when it comes to sex crimes involving minors, and apparently, he was facing more than 50 years in prison if convicted on all charges, reports TMZ.

Knight posted his $100,000 bail and was released from custody in June but was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device. However, the victim's mother told the police that Knight violated the terms of his release by contacting her several times and even appearing at her home.

He was due back in court in the coming weeks.

Knight, 66, was found dead in Phoenix in the early hours of July 8 after posting a goodbye video in which he admitted to living a life of "sin" and implied he was going to take his own life.