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No felony charges on Iverson

Only two misdemeanor counts stand after a preliminary hearing.

Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 30, 2002

PHILADELPHIA -- A municipal court judge threw out all felony charges against 76ers All-Star Allen Iverson, who had been accused of barging into an apartment and threatening two men with a gun while looking for his wife.

Two counts of making terroristic threats stood after a six-hour preliminary hearing to determine whether prosecutors had enough evidence to try Iverson.

"We disagreed with the judge's decision," said Cathie Abookire, spokeswoman for the Philadelphia district attorney's office. " ... The evidence was more than ample to hold the case for trial."

Judge James DeLeon heard testimony from Iverson's accusers, Hakim Carey, 17, and Charles Jones, 21, as well as from Iverson's cousin, Shaun Bowman.

"Based on the testimony, I reached a decision that it was not probable that Iverson had a gun," DeLeon said. "But I just couldn't get around the elements of terroristic threats."

A preliminary hearing will be scheduled Thursday on the remaining charge, Abookire said.

Each of the remaining counts carries a maximum jail term of five years but DeLeon said Iverson is highly unlikely to serve time.

"This is now not the type of case where you would even consider a person looking at jail," DeLeon said.

Iverson, 27, faced 14 charges, including criminal trespass, felony criminal conspiracy and firearms violations. They carried a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison.

The 76ers said in a statement they're pleased.

"We continue to support Allen," the NBA team said, "and we look forward to the resolution of the remaining issue in this matter."

Iverson has $40.5-million and three years left on a $70.8-million contract.

He was accused of forcing his way into a West Philadelphia apartment on July3 with a gun tucked in his waistband and threatening two men. He was looking for his wife, Tawanna, and Bowman, who lived in the complex. Jones filed a complaint with police.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Iverson and his wife had been involved in a fight that lasted two days. At one point, Iverson threw his wife out of their house, the paper reported, citing police tapes.

Iverson and his uncle, Greg Iverson, were accused of then barging into the apartment and threatening the two men inside. Charges against Greg Iverson also were dismissed except for the two misdemeanor counts.

Pennsylvania law defines terroristic threats as violence with intent to terrorize another; to cause evacuation of a building or public transportation facility, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience.

Carey and Jones disagreed on many key points in their testimony, leading defense attorney Richard Sprague to tell the judge: "I call for the court to give a ringing dismissal of these charges."

One witness at the hearing admitted he lied to police. Another was contradicted by his cell phone bill. A third accused one of the first two of a $100,000 extortion scheme.

Iverson never testified, and left without comment.

"It sounds like you had a relative looking for a relative at the house of a relative," DeLeon said.

NBA goes to replay for last-second shots

NEW YORK -- The NBA will make sure next season that last-second shots really do beat the buzzer.

The league approved the use of instant replay beginning with the preseason, just months after some controversial last-second calls in the playoffs.

It comes too late for Baron Davis, but Reggie Miller and Samaki Walker benefited from the wait.

Officials also can determine if a player was fouled before time expired (but not whether the foul call was correct) and if a 24-second shot clock or eight-second backcourt violation occurred before a shot.

Any last-second shot would be reviewed and coaches will not be able to prompt them.

In an April playoff game between the Hornets and Magic, Charlotte's Davis banked in a shot that clearly beat the buzzer after the Hornets inbounded with 0.7 seconds left and the score tied.

Referee Bernie Fryer waved off the shot as it was in the air, saying the officiating crew had determined beforehand no player could catch, turn and shoot in that time. The Hornets went on to win in overtime.

In the Nets-Pacers series, Indiana's Miller forced overtime in Game5 with a shot that left his hand after the clock reached 0.0 seconds.

And in Game 4 of the Kings-Lakers series, a 30-footer by Los Angeles' Walker to end the first half was allowed though it left his hand too late.

The league's Competition Committee recommended the move to the Board of Governors last week, and the board approved the measure by an "overwhelming majority." At least three-quarters, or 22 of 29 members, needed to vote in favor of the rule for the league to adopt it.

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