Here’s an update for one of our Jocks Behind Bars members. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West was in court 
today and avoided any jail time after pleading guilty to weapons and driving charges.
After the plea, West was sentenced to eight months of electronic monitoring, two years probation and 40 hours of community service by a Prince George’s County Circuit Court.
Police said in September 2009, the NBA star was speeding when he cut off one an officer. After getting pulled over, they discovered two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun and an 8½-inch Bowie knife in West’s vehicle.
Where the hell is an NBA basketball player going with artillery like that?
West’s attorney said his client was moving the weapons from one home to another after the player’s mother wanted them removed from the one property.
The NBA may consider a suspension and, or, other disciplinary actions against West after they “review the court’s decision.”
It’s been a rough week for Cavs owner Dan Gilbert that included the team’s superstar LeBron James deserting Cleveland to go play for their rival Miami Heat. There is speculation that the 26-year-old West may have seen his last day in a Cavs uniform. With this arrest and conviction coupled with the player skipping a bunch of practices and team meetings in the past and the domestic violence report his wife filed against him in October, well, you get the message.
According to sources, West has been battling a bi-polar disorder and has been seeing the team’s psychologist. Lucky for him, with today’s sentencing, he won’t have to do it from a jail cell.
Used with permission of the author.
Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.
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