Sacramento Kings forward acquitted of serious charges
Chris Webber was found
guilty of traffic violations
and a misdemeanor, but
cleared of other charges
By Derrill Holly
The Associated Press
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. —
Sacramento Kings forward Chris
Webber was cleared of the most
serious charges against him
Wednesday but will have to pay
$560 in fines for a traffic stop that
could have led to a jail sentence.
A Prince George’s County cir
cuit court jury acquitted Webber
of possession of marijuana, dri
ving under the influence of the
drug, resisting arrest and second
degree assault.
However, the nine-woman,
three-man panel found the NBA
star guilty of two traffic viola
tions and a misdemeanor charge.
“I’m very relieved,” Webber
said outside the courthouse.
“When you face charges of any
type it’s definitely tense. I’m so
elated right now it really hasn’t
hit me. I can’t even show my
emotions.”
Judge Hovey Johnson fined
Webber $30 for failure to display
a driver’s license on demand and
$30 for failure to display a car
registration on demand. Al
though the Maryland criminal
code suggests a range of $270 to
$330 in fines as appropriate for
willful disobedience of a police
officer’s lawful request, Johnson
assessed a $500 fine on that
charge.
“Everyone understands that
when you are stopped by the po
lice you’re not to argue about
whether you’re right or wrong,”
said Jack Johnson, whose State’s
Attorney office prosecuted the
case. Johnson said the fines help
send that message.
“I just told the judge that I
apologize for any inconve
niences. 1 never want to be in a
courtroom again,” Webber said.
In closing arguments, prosecu
tor Shaem Spencer told jurors
that Webber, who formerly
played for the Washington Wiz
ards, did not respect a police of
ficer’s request during the inci
dent.
“It escalated because this de
fendant would not obey, would
not get out” of the car, he said.
The arrest was one of several
off-court matters that prompted
the Wizards to trade Webber to
the Kings in May. He was ac
cused of sexual assault in April,
but that charge was later
dropped. He also paid a $500
fine paid in August after marijua
na was found in his carry-on bag
at an airport in Puerto Rico. That
incident costed Webber his en
dorsement contract with Fila. Of
ficials at the company contend
he violated the athletic-wear
manufacturer’s conduct clause.
“It is going to effect the way
that I act from here on out,” Web
ber said, noting he intends to be
more cautious.
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