Raymond Felton Agrees to Plea Deal in Weapons Case
New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton is expected to plead guilty in his felony gun possession case in exchange for deal in which he serves no jail time, completes community service and pays a $5,000 fine, the Associated Press is reporting.
Felton was in a Manhattan court Monday when prosecutors reached the agreement. He’s expected to officially enter the plea June 30.
Felton didn’t officially speak at court Monday, but did thank his friends and family for their support.
Felton’s lawyer, Jim Walden, thanked the Manhattan District Attorney “for focusing on the facts, and only the facts,” before telling Newsday, “This is a deal that means he can continue his career without interruptions.”
Felton was arrested on gun charges this past February and charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a firearm, which are felonies, and fourth-degree possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor. Felton was allegedly using the gun in a threatening manner against his estranged wife, Ariane Raymondo-Felton, prompting her to provide police with an unlicensed gun that she said belonged to her husband. He then met with police to give his account of the ordeal.
The veteran point guard didn't miss any games due to the incident and his arrest. However, Felton averaged a career-low 9.7 points per game this past season and was a liability on defense against other point guards. The Knicks gave Felton a three-year, $10 million deal before the start of the 2012-13 season.
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(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)