Report: Arenas charged with felony

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has been charged with felony gun possession for carrying a gun without a license, federal authorities said Thursday.

The charge was announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, The Washington Post reported.

Carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business violates a district statute, where unlicensed gun possession is a felony and punishable by up to five years in prison.

His attorneys had sought a plea deal on the gun charge and Washington's WUSA-TV reported Wednesday that if Arenas got no jail time, it would be more difficult for the Wizards to invalidate his $111-million, six-year contract.

The team did not react immediately to the latest development.

Commissioner David Stern suspended the high-priced guard indefinitely and without pay following reports that he and teammate Javaris Crittenton pulled guns during a dispute about a gambling debt and Arenas' subsequent courtside pantomime of a gunshot before a Jan. 6 game at Cleveland.

In a related development, undisclosed sources said investigation and court papers said District of Columbia and Arlington (Va.) police searched Crittenton's home looking for the gun he reportedly used in the locker room confrontation.