Javaris Crittenton of the Washington Wizards pleaded guilty on Monday to a misdemeanor gun possession charge over an incident when he argued with teammate Gilbert Arenas and brought a gun to the basketball team’s locker room.
Crittenton was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and required to perform community service through the NBA’S Haiti project and through a children’s organization in Washington, the US attorney’s office said.
“The charges filed today against Javaris Crittenton and his subsequent plea represent another disappointing development in what has already been a long and frustrating process for the team, the NBA and, most importantly, our fans,” the Wizards said in a statement. “Javaris clearly used very bad judgment in this situation and will now face the consequences of his actions.”
Arenas faces a tentative sentencing date of March 26 after pleading guilty on Jan. 15 to felony weapons possession for bringing four guns to the locker room. He faces up to six months in prison.
Last month, Crittenton and Arenas became involved in a heated argument after a card game and Arenas threatened to shoot Crittenton in the face, court documents said.
Crittenton responded that he would shoot Arenas in the knee.
On Dec. 21, Crittenton arrived at the Verizon Center, where the team plays, to receive medical treatment and to attend practice.
According to Crittenton, before he left his home he placed a lawfully owned, unloaded handgun into his backpack because he believed that Arenas would carry out his threat to shoot him.
Once Crittenton entered the locker room, he put his backpack in his locker and went out.
When he returned to the locker room, he saw Arenas walking away from the area in front of Crittenton’s locker. On a chair in front of the locker, Arenas had placed several handguns and a piece of paper with the message “PICK 1.”
According to Crittenton, he believed that Arenas intended him to select a firearm that Arenas would carry out his threat to shoot Crittenton. Arenas has said the guns were part of a practical joke.
Crittenton then told Arenas he had his own gun, which he took out of his backpack and showed to Arenas.
Crittenton has voluntarily surrendered the handgun to law enforcement authorities.
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