Wilcox Trial to Start Today

Clipper forward Chris Wilcox, charged with transporting a handgun in a vehicle, was scheduled to stand trial today before a judge in Ellicott City, Md.

He faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $2,500 fine.

Wilcox, who helped Maryland win the 2002 NCAA championship and has had sporadic success in three seasons with the Clippers, was stopped on U.S. Route 29 in Columbia, Md., about 1 a.m. on June 27, after a Howard County police officer saw him struggling to keep his car in a lane.

After a K-9 unit arrived, Wilcox passed a field sobriety test. But when the dog reacted to the silver BMW the 22-year-old player was driving, Wilcox was asked whether there was anything inside the car. He said there was a gun.

A .357 Ruger revolver with one spent shell casing in it was found in a pocket behind the passenger seat. Police said live ammunition and two other spent shell casings also were found in the car.

The player’s agent, Jeff Fried, said last month that Wilcox was “disappointed” in the arrest “in light of all the circumstances. But those are the facts that will come out.

“We feel pretty comfortable with the facts as they transpired, but because it’s in a legal context, it’s very limited what one can say.”

Fried did not elaborate and has not returned calls in the last week.

Wilcox, whose hometown on charging documents was listed as Laurel, Md., was expected to play for the Clippers’ summer league team in Las Vegas last month but did not participate after arriving several days late.

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-- Jerry Crowe