West Pleads Guilty to Charges
The NBA today is threatening to turn into its own version of Jim Carroll’s The Basketball Diaries. The Association is replete with unbelievable free agency trades and players being suspended for pointing weapons at each other, and the latest bit of drama comes from Delonte West, who pleaded guilty Thursday to weapon charges and received a home detention sentence. A sub clause states that he will be able to travel to NBA games, provided the league gives him the go ahead.
Judge Graydon S. McKee III sentenced West to eight months of home detention with electronic monitoring, two years of probation, 40 hours of community service and psychological counselling. Prosecutors clarified that West would be allowed to attend team practices and go to NBA games on his team’s schedule, but ultimately it is up to NBA officials to determine whether or not he will be kept off the court.
NBA spokesperson Tim Frank said in a statement that the league would "review the court's decision before making any disciplinary decisions."
Apparently wanting to please the judge to get the lowest possible sentence, West declared that because he can “dribble a basketball” he has been “put on a pedestal.” He also said he was worried he has been a bad role model for youths.
West was apologetic, even saying that he is “ashamed to stand” before the courts, given that he’s set a bad example.
While speeding on a three wheel motorcycle last September, West was pulled over after he allegedly cut off a police officer. Caught on tape, the exchange between West and the officer shows West raising his hands almost immediately after being pulled over, and then standing on the side of the highway in that position.
Two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun, and an 8 inch knife were discovered on West's person and inside a guitar case he was carrying.
West’s attorney said on Thursday that West was transporting the weapons from one of his homes to another at the instruction of his mother. He added that there was “certainly” no “nefarious purpose” behind the transport of the weapons.
Without hesitation West pleaded guilty to the allegations of carrying a concealed weapon and transporting a loaded handgun. As part of a joint agreement, prosecutors dropped six other traffic related charges pertaining to the incident.
Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathon Church told the court: "I don't believe Mr. West should be treated any differently than a plumber.”
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey responded after the ruling that West’s sentence was the usual one given out for someone without prior convictions.
In December of last year Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton of the Washington Wizards were held accountable for storing unloaded firearms in their lockers. The two allegedly drew guns at each other over a gambling dispute.
A long time friend of Crittenton’s, Kendrick “Bookie Ball” Long said that the stand-off was related to a money dispute but refused to go into the details. According to him "He [Arenas] was f- - -ing with him; he [Crittenton] was just defending himself!”
As a result of the controversy, the D.C. Metropolitan Police and the U.S. Attorney’s office began an investigation. In January Arenas with charged with carrying a weapon without a license, a violation of Washington D.C.’s gun laws. Arenas pleaded guilty and was suspended indefinitely from the NBA. He wrote an editorial in the Washington Post not long after, apologizing for the incident and for failing to be a better role model.
Tags: