Ex-NBA Player Crittenton Waives Initial Hearing in Murder Case

(NewsCore) - Former NBA player Javaris Crittenton waived his right to an initial hearing Friday on charges that he fatally shot an Atlanta mother-of-four, the Journal-Constitution reported.

Crittenton, 23, returned to Atlanta Thursday night after being arrested in Los Angeles Aug. 30 for allegedly killing 22-year-old Julian Jones 11 days earlier in a drive-by shooting.

Police allege that Crittenton was firing from a vehicle at a male teenager whom he believed had robbed him of a diamond watch, diamond necklace and an iPhone in April. Jones was struck in the leg and died during surgery.

Crittenton's attorney, Brian Steel, appeared Friday before Fulton County Magistrate Court Judge Maureen Malone, and a bond hearing was set for Sept. 30.

Crittenton, who last played in the NBA in 2009 for the Washington Wizards, is charged with homicide murder, felony murder and aggravated intent to murder.

"He's innocent of the charges," Steel said after Crittenton was arrested last month. Crittenton has also denied involvement in the shooting.

The former Georgia Tech star was the 19th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He played last season with the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Developmental League.

In Dec. 2009, Crittenton was involved in an incident with then-teammate Gilbert Arenas in which they allegedly pulled guns on each other over gambling debts. Arenas downplayed it as a "misguided joke," but both players were suspended for the remainder of the season.

Crittenton received a year of probation for a misdemeanor gun possession charge related to the incident.

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution