By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Attorney’s Office on Thursday charged troubled Washington Wizard star Gilbert Arenas with a felony for carrying a pistol without a license.
The charge, which came in the form of a “criminal information” in D.C. Superior Court, the city’s criminal court, normally is an indication that a plea agreement is forthcoming. The charge carries a penalty of up to 5 years, but Arenas could also get probation.
Arenas is scheduled to appear Friday before Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin where it’s likely he’ll enter a guilty plea.
The one-paragraph charging document alleged that on Dec. 21, 2009 Arenas “did carry, openly and concealed on or about his person, in a place other than his dwelling place, place of business or on other land possessed by him, a pistol without license/licenses issued pursuant to law.”
His attorney Kenneth Wainstein, the former U.S. Attorney, did not return a phone call immediately for comment.
Arenas has been suspended indefinitely and there’s a good chance he won’t be returning to the Wizards, a team that has been struggling all year. The team is in last place in the Southeast division of the Eastern Conference of the NBA with a 12 and 25 record. They are 2 and 8 in the last 10 games.
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