Washington Wizard Gilbert Arenas Pleads Guilty

Shapecity · Jan 15, 2010

WASHINGTON -- NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has pleaded guilty to a felony count of carrying a pistol without a license.

The suspended Washington Wizards star waived his right to jury trial Friday afternoon and was released pending sentencing, which is set for March 26 in the same D.C. Superior Court court.

Arenas pleaded guilty to violating the city's gun laws as part of a plea bargain.

"He accepted full responsibility for his actions, acknowledged that those actions were wrong and against the law, and has apologized to all who have been affected by his conduct," Arenas' attorney, Ken Wainstein, said in a statement. "Mr. Arenas appreciates the professionalism of the authorities handling this matter."

The prosecution agreed to recommend that sentencing fall at the low end of the scale, which calls for a minumum of six months in jail. The maximum penalty is five years in prison. Sentencing will be solely up to the judge to decide.

Arenas was asked a series of questions making sure he understood the rights he was waiving. He arrived after 2 p.m. ET and did not answer any questions from the media.

Defense attorney Kenneth Wainstein says prosecutors agreed they won't seek a sentence longer than the low end of sentencing guidelines. A pre-sentence report isn't done, but it's estimated the low end calls for no more than six months behind bars.

Prosecutor Chris Kavanaugh gave some details of the confrontation between Arenas and another player that led to the charge. Kavanaugh says it stemmed from a Dec. 19 dispute over a card game on the Wizards' flight home from Phoenix.

Arenas has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA.

Arenas has acknowledged keeping unloaded guns in his locker at the Verizon Center. He says he took the guns out of the locker in a "misguided effort to play a joke" on a teammate.

He has publicly employed the "goof ball" defense. He says he wasn't aware of the law, meant no harm and never takes anything seriously.
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Source: ESPN

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Washington Wizard Gilbert Arenas Pleads Guilty

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Washington Wizard Gilbert Arenas Pleads Guilty

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