WASHINGTON — Washington Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge Monday, explaining he had a pistol because he feared teammate Gilbert Arenas would shoot him or blow up his car after the two argued over a card game.
The hearing marked the first time authorities confirmed Crittenton was the other player involved in the confrontation with Arenas, who pleaded guilty Jan. 15 to a felony gun charge.
D.C. Superior Court Senior Judge Bruce Beaudin sentenced Crittenton, 22, to a year of unsupervised probation after Crittenton pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of an unregistered firearm. Beaudin ordered Crittenton to mentor young people in Washington and to help with relief efforts for Haiti.
Beaudin didn’t order a specific amount of community service but said his lawyer must report regularly on the work.
Crittenton must also pay a $1,000 fine and $250 into a victims’ fund.
“I accept full responsibility for my bad judgment, my terrible mistake,” Crittenton told the judge as he entered the plea. “I’m deeply sorry to the city of Washington, to the Wizards, to my family and to the NBA for this embarrassment.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Kavanaugh said the two players first clashed Dec. 19 over a card game on a team flight back from a game in Phoenix. Arenas said he was too old for a fistfight and threatened to shoot Crittenton in the face, and Crittenton replied he would shoot Arenas in his surgically repaired knee, Kavanaugh said.
Later, Arenas said he would blow up or burn Crittenton’s car, Kavanaugh said.
Kavanaugh said Crittenton voluntarily surrendered his gun to authorities. Police had searched his apartment Jan. 14 but didn’t find it.
Crittenton’s lawyer, Peter H. White, said his client was scared of Arenas.
Crittenton faces a suspension or fine from the NBA because possession of a gun at an NBA arena is a violation of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Hornets trade guard.
The New Orleans Hornets traded starting shooting guard Devin Brown to the Chicago Bulls for backup 7-foot center Aaron Gray.
Brown is averaging 9.7 points per game and has made nearly 37 percent of his 3-point shots.
The move opens the way for rookie Marcus Thornton, who has averaged 9.4 points in only 18.6 minutes per game, to start for the Hornets.
Footnote.
The Utah Jazz signed rookie point guard Sundiata Gaines for the rest of the season.
The Associated Press
