Wizards' Crittenton faces gun charges

AFP American Edition | 2010-01-25 21:10:47

<div><p>Washington Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton was charged with two misdemeanor gun violations Monday in what appears to be the start of a plea deal with prosecutors over a locker room weapons incident.</p><p>The charges in District of Columbia Superior Court come 10 days after NBA teammate Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge in a plea deal.</p><p>Arenas was indefinitely suspended by the NBA and will be sentenced March 26. Prosecutors agreed not to seek more than six months in jail for Arenas in exchange for his guilty plea.</p><p>Crittenton was charged with possessing an unregistered firearm and attempting to carry a pistol without a license. Both were filed in a manner indicating a plea deal had been made, although that was not confirmed.</p><p>Each charge carries a maximum of one year in jail.</p><p>But Crittenton, a 22-year-old reserve, apparently will plead guilty to one misdemeanor count in a plea bargain agreement noted in a statement by Peter White, Crittenton's lawyer.</p><p>"Mr. Crittenton, who was 21 years old at the time of this incident, has never before been arrested or charged with any crime, and with today's misdemeanor plea to possession of an unregistered firearm, accepts responsibility for his conduct," White said.</p><p>"He looks forward to explaining his actions to the NBA and returning to the basketball court as soon as possible."</p><p>Charges stem from a December 21 locker room incident involving Arenas that was rooted in a dispute over gambling debts during an airplane flight two days earlier in which Crittenton anmd Arenas joked about how they would attack each other.</p><p>Two days later, Arenas brought four guns into team's the locker room and put them on a chair near Crittenton's locker with a note saying "Pick one" in what he later called a joke.</p><p>Prosecutors said Crittenton told Arenas he did not need any of his guns and then brandished one of his own.</p><p>"Mr. Crittenton brought a lawfully owned, unloaded handgun into Washington only because he legitimately feared for his life," White said in his statement.</p><p>"The government's proffer of facts acknowledges that his handgun was not loaded and that he never threatened anyone with it.</p><p>"The gun was legally purchased, but bringing it into the District, even for self defense, violated the city's strict gun control laws."</p><p>Police searched Crittenton's home earlier this month but did not find a gun or seize any evidence.</p><p>Crittenton, who has not played this season because of injuries, is set to become a free agent after the season.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67771530&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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