Cavs' West faces more weapons charges
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | 8:43 PM ET
The Associated Press
Cavaliers' Delonte West, in game action Saturday, faces more charges stemming from his arrest in September for speeding on a Maryland highway. (Tony Dejak/Associated Press)Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West was indicted Tuesday on additional weapons and traffic charges stemming from his Sept. 17 arrest in Maryland for speeding on a motorcycle and carrying multiple weapons.
The eight-count indictment sheds no new light on why West, 26, was riding a motorcycle on the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County at 10 p.m. with two loaded handguns and a loaded shotgun.
Prosecutors recently added a 22-centimetre Bowie knife to the list of concealed weapons West was carrying.
It's illegal in Maryland to carry concealed weapons or to transport loaded handguns.
Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry, who along with team doctors has been handling West's delicate state on a daily basis, issued a statement after the release of the new charges.
"It is our understanding that today's developments are part of the legal process that continues to take place with Delonte, and he and his legal counsel will handle that," Ferry said.
"We will continue to take this matter very seriously and monitor and respect the legal process as it proceeds, but not speculate or comment about it."
West was indicted on two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, two counts of carrying a handgun, two counts of transporting a handgun and one count each of reckless driving and negligent driving.
Cavs coach Mike Brown didn't want to speculate on the possibility of West doing jail time.
"I believe in the process," Brown said. "I'm going to let it unfold and go from there."
The charges are all misdemeanors. Each of the weapons counts carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.
West, who could still face a league suspension over the charges, made his season debut during Saturday night's 90-79 win against Charlotte, scoring 13 points in 24 minutes.
