Kenneth L. Wainstein (O'Melveny & Myers LLP)
Hiring Kenneth Wainstein appears to be the best decision made by Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas.
On Friday, Superior Court Judge Robert Morin sentenced Arenas to 30 days in a halfway house and two years of probation, a lighter sentence than the plea agreement negotiated with the U.S. Attorney’s office in the District of Columbia.
Arenas was charged with carrying a pistol without a license stemming from a well-publicized Dec. 21, 2009, incident in which he brought weapons into the locker room of the professional basketball team.
In January, the Wizards star struck a deal with the U.S. Attorney’s office that Wainstein once headed. Wainstein spent 19 years at the Justice Department in a number of key roles, including U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 2004 to 2006. Wainstein is now a partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
Under the plea agreement, Arenas pleaded guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The plea deal called for a jail sentence of six to 24 months, with probation, a split sentence or incarceration possible, although the government has agreed to seek a sentence at the low end of that range.
“I’d like to say, I’m really sorry this happened, and I wake up every day wishing it didn’t,” Arenas told the court, according to The Washington City Paper.
UPDATE: Wainstein released the following statement:
“We are very gratified with the outcome of today’s sentencing proceeding. Judge Morin’s decision was fair and measured; it reflected a deep understanding of the relevant facts and equities; and it carefully took into account both the facts relating to Mr. Arenas’ offense and the evidence of Mr. Arenas’ good character. The result was a sentence that serves justice very well.
Mr. Arenas is grateful to the Court, and looks forward to serving the community and once again being a force for good in the District of Columbia.”
