Ten days after his teammate pleaded guilty to felony gun possession, Washington Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton faces gun charges.
According to the Washington Post, Crittenton, 22, was charged with weapons violations in an apparent plea deal. He was charged on two counts:
- possession of a firearm
- attempting to carry a pistol without a license, both misdemeanors.
Each charge carries a maximum year in jail. Crittenton's lawyer, Peter H. White, says prosecutors plan to drop the second charge.
In a statement, his lawyer also acknowledged the plea deal and says Crittenton brought a legally owned, unloaded handgun to Washington "only because he legitimately feared for his life" and he accepts responsibility for his conduct.
The team has excused Crittenton from practices and games while authorities investigate the incident at the Verizon Center.
As previously discussed, Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty on Jan. 15 to a felony gun charge connected to a locker-room argument with Crittenton at the Verizon Center. Arenas faces sentencing on March 26. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to seek more than six months in jail.
NBA commissioner David Stern has suspended Arenas indefinitely without pay.
Crittenton, a 6-foot-5 point guard hasn't played this season because of injury. The Wizards have declined to pick up his fourth-year option, making him a free agent next summer.
Firearm laws in Washington are among the nation's most strict. Until a recent US Supreme Court ruling, private ownership of guns was illegal in the nation's capital.
Under the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement, NBA players are subject to discipline if they bring guns to the arena or practice facility, or even an offsite promotional appearance.
- 2nd Wizards player to plead guilty to gun charge (Associated Press)
- Statement from Crittenton's lawyer (Washington Post)
- Washington Wizards guard to plead guilty to weapons-related charge (Los Angeles Times)
