Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West has been indicted on concealed weapons charges stemming from a September traffic stop during which police say they found a shotgun hidden in a guitar case strapped across his back and other guns in his possession.
The Brandywine native returned to the basketball court Saturday night after a tumultuous offseason delayed his return. On top of his Sept. 17 arrest in Prince George’s County on concealed weapons charges, West also has been battling bipolar disorder. Last week, as he missed the Cavaliers’ first three games, his wife filed a domestic violence report against him.
Now, West faces a league suspension for the weapons charges, which a Prince George’s County grand jury formally filed against him Tuesday afternoon.
According to police, West was speeding on his Can-Am, three-wheeled motorcycle in September when he cut off a K-9 officer on the Capital Beltway. After he was pulled over, West admitted to the officer that he had the guns in his possession. A search revealed the shotgun in the guitar case, a loaded Beretta 9mm in his front-left pants pocket, and a loaded Ruger .357 Magnum in his pants leg.
West faces up to 18 years in prison if he is convicted of the charges.
“We take gun cases very seriously,” said Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey. “Anyone carrying a concealed dangerous weapon must be prosecuted.”
– Freeman Klopott
