New York Knicks Guard Arrested and Arraigned on Gun Charges

New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton was arrested and later arraigned on two felony gun charges after his wife, accompanied by her attorney, turned in a semi-automatic handgun that he allegedly owns over to police. The lawyer claimed that Felton’s estranged wife, who has filed for divorce, no longer wanted the handgun in the house.

Felton was arrested after turning himself in following a Knicks’ game with Dallas. He was released on $25,000 bail and was later arraigned and charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and criminal possession of a firearm.

The state of New York, and New York City in particular, have some of the nation’s strictest gun laws. The handgun allegedly in Felton’s possession, a Belgian-made FN Herstal model, was loaded with an ammunition magazine containing 18 high-velocity bullets. The NBA player allegedly did not have a permit to possess the weapon in New York City.

The New York SAFE (Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement) Act of 2013 banned the possession of “high-capacity” ammunition magazines and limited the maximum capacity of magazines, with one exception, to 10 rounds. The law initially limited magazine capacity to 7 rounds, but the limitation was increased after a court challenge. Still, only seven rounds can be loaded unless the firearm is being used at a gun range or shooting competition.

Under New York City law, a person must also possess a city-specific license to possess a weapon within city limits. The city does not honor gun licenses issued by other states or even other jurisdictions within New York State. Felton is from Dallas and owns a home in Salt Lake City where gun laws are considerably more lax.

Although his wife did not claim Felton had threatened her with the weapon, a judge ordered the NBA player to stay away from her. The Knicks front office had no immediate comment on the case. Felton could face up to 11 years in prison if convicted on the charges.

As stated previously, the gun laws in New York and New York City are very strict and extremely complicated. You may easily find yourself in violation of the law without even realizing it. Therefore, if you are facing gun charges, it is important that you contact the defense attorneys at Lubiner, Schmidt & Palumbo. Our knowledgeable staff will work tirelessly to see that you get the best outcome in your case.