Raymond Felton Gun Charge: New York Knicks Point Guard Charged With Illegal Gun Possession
The Knicks just can't seem to catch a break.
New York Knicks' starting point guard Raymond Felton has been arrested on charges of illegal firearm possession. The 29-year-old NBA player turned himself in to authorities Tuesday morning after his wife, Ariane Raymondo-Felton, turned in her husband's Belgian semi-automatic pistol to the NYPD.
His wife's decision to turn in the unregistered weapon seems to have been influenced by recent tension between she and her husband. There were rumors of the couple's impending divorce last week, though Felton was hesitant to discuss the details to the press.
"It's your life," Felton told The Daily News, last week. "When you're going through certain things in life it's on your mind, no matter what. You try not to let it come into your job, into your workplace, but sometimes it does. You're human and it's a part of life. But at the same time, it is what it is. That's my personal life, though; I don't want to discuss that part."
Authorities were surprised to find that the handgun, which was kept in the couple's bedroom, was loaded with armor piercing bullets. According to reports by CNN, while Raymondo-Felton claims her husband never threatened her with the gun, he did sometimes hold on to it during arguments.
New York is one of the worst states to be caught with an illegal weapon. Felton now faces three offenses of unlawful possession, including one charge that carries a minimum of three and a half years in prison. To be found guilty, prosecutors only need to prove that the gun was his. Felton can seek a plea deal for a lesser sentence, but the changes of him escaping without jail time is slim. Former NFL player Plaxico Burress spent close to two years in prison after pleading guilty to similar charges.
The Knicks have not commented on Felton's situation as of yet, but it's clear that this does little to help the struggling team. The Knicks were already in desperate need of attainting another point guard after Felton proved unable to match the numbers he put up during their successful 2012-13 season. Now with the legal complications imposed by the charges, plus a possible league suspension, the team's troubles don't look to be letting up soon.