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Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside home or business, a felony. More details to come.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... id=topnews

A charge isn't the same thing as a conviction.

He still probably pleads to a misdemeanor.

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court on Friday to plead guilty to gun charges, The Examiner has learned.
Arenas was charged in court papers Thursday with one felony count of carrying a pistol without a license, court papers show. The papers were filed "by information," an indication that a plea agreement has been reached because prosecutors can only file charges by information when a defendant agrees to waive his right to appear before a grand jury.
A top law enforcement source familiar with the case told The Examiner that Arenas has agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of carrying a pistol without a license and four misdemeanor counts of unauthorized use of a weapon.
The papers were filed "by information," an indication that a plea agreement has been reached because prosecutors can only file charges by information when a defendant agrees to waive his right to appear before a grand jury. Through a spokeswoman, Arenas' lawyer declined comment.
It's not clear whether Arenas will face prison time. Prosecutors will await a pre-sentencing report before making a recommendation, the source said.
It ends one phase of an investigation that has knocked Arenas from the heights of NBA superstardom. His career is now in jeopardy after a Dec. 21 incident in which he laid out weapons near a teammates' locker in what Arenas' claimed was a "misguided" stab at a practical joke.
Troubles appear to be deepening around teammate Javaris Crittenton, however, whose Arlington home was searched Thursday as authorities investigate whether he, too, flashed a weapon during the Dec. 21 incident. The Washington Post first reported that Crittenton and Arenas were in a heated argument Dec. 19 over a card game on a team flight and that Crittenton threatened to shoot Arenas. On Dec. 21, Crittenton returned to his locker to see four handguns on a chair with a note stating, "Pick one."
Crittenton then came back with a weapon of his own, The Post reported.
Witnesses have told a grand jury that they saw something that looked like a handgun in Crittenton's hand, but authorities aren't sure whether it was actually a gun.


Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sport ... z0ccq37ON0

It sucks if they make him plead to a felony and it double dog sucks if he has to any jail time. The Wiz get their wish and probably get out from the contract if he pleads to a felony. An unloaded gun simply doesn't rise to the level of a felony. I know the modern theory of law is the law is the law b/c it's the law so you follow it no matter what but this and the Plaxico incident make me long for the days when people bothered to analyze what the purpose behind the law was and whether or not there was actually criminal intent.

ErikChowbay023 wrote:Troubles appear to be deepening around teammate Javaris Crittenton, however, whose Arlington home was searched Thursday as authorities investigate whether he, too, flashed a weapon during the Dec. 21 incident. The Washington Post first reported that Crittenton and Arenas were in a heated argument Dec. 19 over a card game on a team flight and that Crittenton threatened to shoot Arenas. On Dec. 21, Crittenton returned to his locker to see four handguns on a chair with a note stating, "Pick one."

Crittenton then came back with a weapon of his own, The Post reported.
Witnesses have told a grand jury that they saw something that looked like a handgun in Crittenton's hand, but authorities aren't sure whether it was actually a gun.


Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sport ... z0ccq37ON0

If Gilbert had not turned over the four guns, the team would be saying he had what appeared to be four guns and he wouldn't be facing charges, either. They won't even charge Crittenton if they never find the gun.

After reading a bunch online, and talking to my lawyer, im guessing it may be part of the plea

It sounds like he pled a felony in exchange for no jail time. Obviously, the next question is whether or not a felony is grounds for voiding his contract. My guess is that the Players Union will back Arenas on this, since Arenas just met with them prior to this plea. If the Wizards want to void him, it's going to be an ugly fight.

nate33 wrote:It sounds like he pled a felony in exchange for no jail time. Obviously, the next question is whether or not a felony is grounds for voiding his contract. My guess is that the Players Union will back Arenas on this, since Arenas just met with them prior to this plea. If the Wizards want to void him, it's going to be an ugly fight.

The judge decides the sentence, not the prosecutor.

W. Unseld wrote:It sucks if they make him plead to a felony and it double dog sucks if he has to any jail time. The Wiz get their wish and probably get out from the contract if he pleads to a felony. An unloaded gun simply doesn't rise to the level of a felony. I know the modern theory of law is the law is the law b/c it's the law so you follow it no matter what but this and the Plaxico incident make me long for the days when people bothered to analyze what the purpose behind the law was and whether or not there was actually criminal intent.

There was criminal stupidity - regardless of what the law is. He's certainly not going to get anywhere near what Plaxico got, and he'll likely get off with zero jail time and get to keep his contract. If Gilbert is a victim, I want to be a victim.

nate33 wrote:It sounds like he pled a felony in exchange for no jail time. Obviously, the next question is whether or not a felony is grounds for voiding his contract. My guess is that the Players Union will back Arenas on this, since Arenas just met with them prior to this plea. If the Wizards want to void him, it's going to be an ugly fight.

Doubtful, could be charged with felony and plea to a misdemeanor

Ruzious wrote:If Gilbert is a victim, I want to be a victim.

Wait, so just because Gilbert makes X amount of money; it makes the situation he is going through pleasant?

The media around here is terrible... They are losing respect from me by the minute... They know none of the facts about the charge or the plea agreement, but they want to continue to report about him going to jail, contract being voided...


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 reports if convicted, Arenas could face a maximum five years in jail and a fine.

Arenas charged
Gilbert Arenas was charged in Washington D.C. with a felony for his possession of a gun at the Verizon Center. Document
The media around here is terrible... They are losing respect from me by the minute... They know none of the facts about the charge or the plea agreement, but they want to continue to report about him going to jail, contract being voided...


His 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.

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.

I seriously doubt that Gil pled guilty to a Felony. He has the lawyer of all lawyers. I think they just put this out this way to make him look bad. He will end up pleading to a misdermenor with no jail time but all anyone will remember is the felony part. The funny thing is that is just like the story itself. All anyone remembers or goes by is the original story from the NY Post when it didnt really happened like that at all and all anyone will remember in this case is the Felony charge even though he was only convicted of a misdamenor.

Trust me, Im a convicted felon that had to plead guilty. They always hit you with a ton of charges so you have to plead to something. Its all a scam. The good thing is that I think Gil will get the smaller deal while I still had to plead to a felony

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:

ErikChowbay023 wrote:Troubles appear to be deepening around teammate Javaris Crittenton, however, whose Arlington home was searched Thursday as authorities investigate whether he, too, flashed a weapon during the Dec. 21 incident. The Washington Post first reported that Crittenton and Arenas were in a heated argument Dec. 19 over a card game on a team flight and that Crittenton threatened to shoot Arenas. On Dec. 21, Crittenton returned to his locker to see four handguns on a chair with a note stating, "Pick one."

Crittenton then came back with a weapon of his own, The Post reported.
Witnesses have told a grand jury that they saw something that looked like a handgun in Crittenton's hand, but authorities aren't sure whether it was actually a gun.


Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sport ... z0ccq37ON0

If Gilbert had not turned over the four guns, the team would be saying he had what appeared to be four guns and he wouldn't be facing charges, either. They won't even charge Crittenton if they never find the gun.

You and that lady writer from the Post just don't get it. The prosecutor would not cut a sweet deal with Gilbert if he wasn't forthcoming with info - and they don't need the guns to make a charge if there were witnesses. And if the video shows Critter loading a gun, he's not going to get a good deal - and they don't need his gun. For all we know, he's innocent.

dlts20 wrote:
Trust me, Im a convicted felon

This made me laugh.

This whole ordeal has given me a ton of mixed emotions.

EDITED -- Meant to delete that one.

Krizko Zero wrote:

Ruzious wrote:If Gilbert is a victim, I want to be a victim.

Wait, so just because Gilbert makes X amount of money; it makes the situation he is going through pleasant?

Ummmmm.... Huh?

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:Crittenton I don't like in all of this. But, if Gil hadn't screwed with his head in the first place none of this would have happened.

You do get it.

Donkey McDonkerton wrote:

nate33 wrote:It sounds like he pled a felony in exchange for no jail time. Obviously, the next question is whether or not a felony is grounds for voiding his contract. My guess is that the Players Union will back Arenas on this, since Arenas just met with them prior to this plea. If the Wizards want to void him, it's going to be an ugly fight.

Doubtful, could be charged with felony and plea to a misdemeanor

It is clearly apart of the plea agreement...

From the "Gil suspended indefinitely" thread

sportjunky wrote:im not a criminal lawyer so please someone correct me if im completely wrong.....

but if they actually planned on throwing the book at him, wouldnt they charge him with four felony counts? one for each gun?

that they only charged him with "one count" makes me think/hope this is the first step towards a plea deal