US Attorney's Office Charges Arenas with Felony Gun Possession

Suspended NBA Star Gilbert Arenas has been charged by the U.S. Attorney's office with felony gun possession.

According to the Washington Post, the charge in the Gilbert Arenas gun case was filed was filed  by the U.S. Attorney's office for the District of Columbia. He was charged with one count of carrying a pistol without a license, in connection with a locker room standoff with teammate Javaris Crittenton, authorities said.

Felony gun possession in D.C. is a crime that carries a maximum five years in jail and a fine.

The Washington Post reports that Arenas's attorney and prosecutors had been negotiating a plea deal and that it was not clear whether the filing of charges was a part of the deal.

NBA teams can terminate players if they are in violation of the morals clause of their contract. Arenas is in the second year of a six-year, $111 million contract.

As previously discussed, Washington Wizards' Coach Flip Saunders met with a federal grand jury to investigate the case. Three members of the Washington Wizards also met with authorities concerning their teammate.

The charge by U.S. Attorney's office came directly from prosecutors and was not part of a formal indictment, the Post reports.

As previously discussed, Arenas along with Crittenton are accused of weapons violations in the team's locker room during a reported dispute over a poker debt.

Now Areanas faces a gun possession charge. Under the law, gun owners are allowed to transport firearms within DC only under very limited circumstances - such as taking the weapon to be registered or to a practice range.

Court records show authorities also have searched Crittenton's home looking for the gun he reportedly used in the locker room gunplay. Authorities were looking for a silver or chrome-colored semiautomatic handgun with a black handle, according to court records.

The team has excused Crittenton from practices and games while authorities investigate the incident at the Verizon Center.

• After latest episode involving guns, it's clear Wizards' Gilbert Arenas is his own worst enemy  (Washington Post)
• Guns in the locker (Washington Post)
• Gun Control Laws  (FindLaw)