http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4826597 WASHINGTON -- Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has been charged with a felony in connection with last month's locker room confrontation with a teammate. Arenas, who was suspended indefinitely without pay by NBA commissioner David Stern last week, was charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. The charges were filed in D.C. Superior Court in an "information," a document that generally signals a plea deal. The Washington Post reported if convicted, Arenas could face a maximum five years in jail and a fine. "We are aware of the charge filed against Gilbert Arenas today and will continue to follow the ongoing legal process very carefully," the Wizards said in a statement issued Thursday. "We will also continue to cooperate fully with the proper authorities and the NBA." Arenas charged Gilbert Arenas was charged in Washington D.C. with a felony for his possession of a gun at the Verizon Center. Document Arenas' lawyer had no immediate comment. Arenas, a three-time All-Star, had admitted to taking unloaded guns out of his locker in a "misguided effort to play a joke" on a teammate following a gambling dispute during a team flight. Arenas has said he kept multiple guns in his locker at the Verizon Center. He claims he wanted to keep them away from his children and didn't know it was illegal. At least seven Wizards players and coach Flip Saunders have appeared before a grand jury or been questioned by authorities regarding the matter. The teammate involved in the spat, Javaris Crittenton, had authorities search his apartment for a semiautomatic handgun in connection with the incident on Thursday afternoon. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report
Don't gamble in the Dish...someone might show up with an unloaded gun in a misguided attempt to play a joke.
What's the f'ing big deal ... he brought some guns to work and threatened a co-worker. Welcome to the Obama Nanny State.
The most Arenas will get is a slap on the wrist and a mutombo finger wag saying "No no no! Bad aging All Star!"
Yeah, if you think losing almost 90 million dollars is just a slap on the wrist. Yet another epic mistake by a very highly paid athlete, truly amazing.
Dumb move, but joking about it before a game in front of fans really showed how completely oblivious this guy was to the seriousness of his situation. They're coming down hard on him as they should...you don't bring weapons to work, joke about it, then expect a simple "my bad" statement to make it okay. The NBA and law enforcement are probably looking to make an example of Arenas which is a bit sad, but probably needed...they want to make sure this never happens again.
There must be a lot more to this story than what we've been hearing. Arenas gets charged with a felony and Crittenton gets nothing? From what I've heard, they had equal blame. I don't know what happened. Maybe the story will come out eventually.
He's scheduled a court appearance tomorrow to apparently plead guilty. The prosecutors filed an "information" not a criminal indictment handed up by a grand jury. That typically means there's a plea deal in place. Chances of conviction: just about 100%.
That's what I was thinking. Arenas has an acute interest in whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor, so they'll push hard on that score. And, in the range of infractions that fall into having a gun without a proper license, his infraction is pretty minor.