Webber Pleads Guilty to Criminal Contempt

On the eve of his federal perjury trial, Sacramento King forward Chris Webber pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of criminal contempt in a deal that is expected to allow him to avoid prison time.

Webber had been charged with lying to a grand jury about money authorities said he received from former Michigan basketball booster Ed Martin. Webber could have faced up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

During Monday’s hearing, the former Michigan player admitted that in 1994 he gave Martin about $38,000 in cash as repayment for past expenditures the former booster made on his behalf.

“I’m relieved that it is in the process of being over,” Webber said after the hearing.

In the agreement with prosecutors, Webber will face a fine. U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds will decide whether the criminal contempt charge is a felony or a misdemeanor.

Sentencing was set for Sept. 16.

A perjury charge against the player’s father, Mayce Webber Jr., is expected to be dropped today, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino said. The father’s attorney declined to comment.

Martin, who died Feb. 14 at age 69, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to launder money. He admitted he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and lent it to several players while they were in school.

The retired autoworker said he lent $616,000 to Webber and three other Wolverine players -- Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock -- while they were amateurs. Martin said he gave Webber and his family $280,000 from 1988 to ‘93, a period extending from his freshman year in high school through his sophomore year at Michigan.

Because of NCAA violations connected to the case, Michigan was banned from postseason play in 2003 and ‘04, and forfeited 112 regular-season and tournament victories from five seasons.

Webber has denied taking anything of significant value from Martin. During his 2000 appearance before the grand jury investigating Martin’s dealings, Webber said he took money from Martin in high school, but could not remember if he took money in college.