CriminalSports

CriminalSports
The home of sports prime time crime

Wednesday, September 11, 2002

NOT GUILTY PLEA: Chris Webber, Sacramento Kings

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Associated Press reports Chris Webber, the $123 million star of the Sacramento Kings, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of lying to a grand jury and obstructing justice. Webber spoke only once at Wednesday's hearing, saying "yes'' when U.S. Magistrate Virginia Morgan asked if he understood the charges against him. His attorney, Steven Fishman of Detroit, told Morgan his client was pleading not guilty.

Morgan released Webber on a $10,000 unsecured bond and scheduled a pretrial conference for Sept. 26.

Webber is accused of interfering with the grand jury's investigation of former University of Michigan booster Ed Martin, a retired autoworker and convicted bookmaker who claims he lent Webber $280,000 while the basketball standout was in high school and at Michigan.

10:45:39 PM

FBI PROBE: Bison Dele, Former NBA
PHOENIX -- Associated Press reports the FBI has launched an investigation into the disappearance of former Detroit Pistons center Bison Dele, formerly known as Brian Williams, and his girlfriend during a boating trip in the Pacific Ocean. Dele, girlfriend Serena Karlan and boat captain Bertrand Saldo have been missing for two months, said Andrew Black, spokesman for the FBI's San Francisco office.
Authorities are in the process of locating Williams' older brother Kevin, also known as Miles Dabord, who lives in the San Francisco area. Kevin Williams was questioned by Phoenix police last week in an identity theft investigation, said Karlan's stepfather, Scott Ohlgren. Authorities would not identify the man questioned in the investigation but said he claimed to be Brian Williams.

10:28:54 PM

NO CHARGES: Jarrod Washburn, California Angels
SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Associated Press reports the Orange County district attorney will not file sexual assault charges against Anaheim Angels left-hander Jarrod Washburn.
"We have thoroughly reviewed the case and we are rejecting the case based on lack of sufficient evidence at this time," Deputy District Attorney Randy Payne said Wednesday.

KABC-TV, citing an unidentified source, reported Tuesday that a 16-year-old girl called police from an Orange County hospital room on Sept. 1 and made the allegation, prompting an investigation by the Anaheim Police Department.

10:23:25 PM

SUSPENDED: Damon Moore, Chicago Bears

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Sun-Times reports Chicago Bears safety Damon Moore has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL substance abuse policy. Moore, acquired in the offseason as a free agent after playing three seasons with the Eagles, had been on the Bears' injured list. He tore a knee ligament in the NFC championship game in January.

He will be eligible to return to the team's facilities on Sept. 30.

"I don't want to make a big deal,'' said Moore, who indicated the failed test came in February, after the Philadelphia Eagles made it clear they would release him. "We went out one night and had some fun, and I tested positive. It wasn't cocaine, nothing like that. I'm a good person. I wasn't driving drunk where I could kill someone. I didn't beat my kid. We went out and partied and had what I thought was a good time.

"I know the regulations. I'm not making light of it, and I'm definitely very grateful for the Bears to give me a chance. I won't do anything in the future to misrepresent them. I'm very fortunate everyone stood by me while I got my mind straight.''

10:17:44 PM

SUSPENDED: Ray Buchanan, Atlanta Falcons

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Journal reports the Atlanta Falcons suffered another hit to their beleaguered defense when starting cornerback Ray Buchanan was suspended four games without pay by the NFL on Tuesday after testing positive for anabolic steroids and related substances. Buchanan's suspension covers Sunday's game against the Bears and games against the Bengals, Bucs and Giants. His absence hurts a defense already missing starting linebacker Will Overstreet and left end Travis Hall because of injuries.

Buchanan's $2.65 million salary is highest on the team. While out, he'll forfeit weekly paychecks of $158,882 (before taxes), a total of $623,529.

All NFL players are tested for steriods in training camp.

"This was my inadvertent mistake," Buchanan said in a statement issued by team officials. "Evidently, I took a supplement of some sort that had a steroid derivative in it. Either way, it was my mistake. I would like to apologize to my teammates, the Falcons organization, the Atlanta Falcons fans. I will learn from this," Buchanan, a former Pro Bowler, said in a statement.

10:11:26 PM