FT Chronicle

WASHINGTON (AFP)– Suspended Washington Wizards star guard Gilbert Arenas faces a felony charge after bringing four guns into the locker room of the NBA club, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

Prosecutors charged Arenas with one count of carrying a pistol without a license, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine.

Lawyers for Arenas and the US Attorney’s office had been in negotiations for a plea deal and it was not immediately known if the charge was part of an arrangement.

Arenas is expected to appear in Superior Court on Friday.

In the charges, prosecutors said that on December 21 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 issued pursuant to law.”

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper had reported that negotiations between lawyers for Arenas and the US attorney’s office could keep the player out of jail despite him bringing guns to his locker at the Wizards’ home arena in the Chinatown section of the American capital.

Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton argued after a card game last month and Crittenton said he should shoot Arenas in his surgically repaired left knee, the Post reported.

On December 21, the paper said, Arenas brought four guns and put them on a chair next to Crittenton’s locker with a note saying “Pick one.”

Wizards coach Flip Saunders, team president Ernie Grunfeld and eight Wizards players have been interviewed by the grand jury or spoken with authorities.

Police searched Crittenton’s apartment early Thursday morning.

NBA commissioner David Stern suspended Arenas indefinitely without pay on January 6. An NBA investigation that could bring more suspensions and fines could come in the next week.

Arenas missed most of the past two seasons with knee injuries and had hoped for a breakout comeback season. Instead, the team has pulled his image from an arena banner and a pre-game video and stopped displaying his No. 0 (zero) jersey.