The ex-wife of a former NBA referee convicted of gambling can breathe a sigh of relief. She stood by her ex, even after their divorce was final, throughout the long process of bringing him to justice. And yesterday he was sentenced to only 15 months in prison.

Tim and Kim Donaghy remain friends, and both are close to their four daughters, ages 6 to 11.

Their relationship exemplifies what we at FWW see as a good divorce, although under extraordinary circumstances. The Donaghys have kept their daughters’ interests in mind, requesting he serve his time in a prison near the ex-wife’s home in Bradenton, Florida.

Tim Donaghy has been contributing to his daughters’ support. His sentence punishes not only him, but them. He will not be able to provide anything for the 15 months he will be in prison.

Tim Donaghy pled guilty last fall to two counts of gambling: providing inside information about injured basketball players to two co-defendants, his old high school friends, and placing bets on games he officiated. It is forbidden for referees to gamble.

Guidelines would have given him a sentence of 27 to 33 months in prison. His lawyer said, in Donaghy’s defense, that he was a compulsive gambler. He resigned from the NBA last year.

Referees in the NBA are barred from any sort of gambling except for betting at race tracks during the off-season. The referee contract also specifies that they are not allowed to tell anyone (outside of their immediate family) where they are going, or which games they are scheduled to work.

The New York Post quoted Kim Donaghy, his ex-wife, as saying that she hoped he would not get a long sentence. "I could really use his support,” she said. “If he's incarcerated, I'm on my own with the kids. The kids need him, and I need him."

She also said that they had told their daughters together what was happening. "We've said he had a job and he was not allowed to gamble and he did and it was against the law and that there's a very good chance that he might be sent away to a day camp."

“Camp,” they felt, was the best way to explain to their daughters what prison was. He will have a gym, they told the girls, and be able to go outside.

They will visit him at “camp,” and retain the ties that will sustain their family when he is released.