Sebastian Telfair fined for having loaded gun on plane

**kolko** · 02-15-2006

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Portland Trail Blazers have fined guard Sebastian Telfair an undisclosed amount after a loaded gun was found on the team's private jet at Boston's Logan Airport, The Oregonian newspaper reported Wednesday.

Telfair, 20, had hidden the Smith & Wesson handgun in a pillow case, but it was discovered by Transportation Security Administration personnel as the team prepared to fly to Toronto, TSA spokeswoman Jennifer Peppin told the Portland newspaper.

"He said it was an accident, Peppin said.

The Portland Trail Blazers did not have immediate comment when reached by The Associated Press.

According to the Oregonian report, the team said the gun is registered in Oregon to Samantha Rodriguez, Telfair's girlfriend of five years.

Telfair, who declined to comment prior to a Wednesday night game in Oklahoma City, told team officials that he inadvertently grabbed his girlfriends handbag, which contained the gun, when the team left Portland on Feb. 7th for its five-game trip.

The matter was turned over to the Massachusetts Port Authority, which said no charges would be filed.

The team fined him for violating league and team policy. The National Basketball Association said it is reviewing the case.

"While we had to allow the legal process to run its course, and were grateful it appears that the authorities have determined Sebastian initially made an innocent mistake, he clearly compounded the situation by making the wrong choice by not notifying the teams traveling security agent about his situation immediately," Blazers president Steve Patterson said Wednesday.

"He has apologized profusely, but he knows he must be held accountable for his actions."

Blazers coach Nate McMillan did not punish Telfair, playing him 22 minutes in Toronto on Sunday and 23 minutes Monday in Charlotte.

"We are just seeing what the league is going to do now," McMillan said Wednesday.

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