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

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