AP News
(2010-07-15 15:45:42)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West pleaded guilty Thursday to weapons charges and was sentenced to eight months of electronic monitoring.
West will also be subject to two years of unsupervised probation, 40 hours of community service and psychological counseling.
Authorities said the basketball player was carrying two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun and an 8 1/2-inch knife while speeding on a three-wheel motorcycle on a the Capital Beltway ring road around Washington last September.
West's lawyer said he had the weapons because he was transporting them from one home to another that he owns in Maryland, after his mother instructed him to remove them from one property.
The 26-year-old player told judge Graydon McKee that he was ashamed of the incident.
He said he has been "put on a pedestal" because he can "dribble a basketball," and worries about letting down youth who look up to athletes.
Following his arrest last September, West reported to Cleveland's training camp but missed the team's first four training sessions without an excuse.
He also left the team for a week to deal with personal matters, and last October his wife filed a domestic violence report against him.
The Cavaliers made efforts to help West, who has battled bipolar disorder.
He was accompanied by his mother, girlfriend and uncle in court.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league would review the court's decision before making any decision on disciplinary action.
Copyright 2010 AFP American Edition
