WNBA star Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges during a Russian court appearance July 7. Reuters reports that while making her plea during her trial’s second hearing the basketball player said she had not acted deliberately.
According to the Newswire which had a journalist present Brittney said “I’d like to plead guilty your honor but there was no intent I didn’t want to break the law she reportedly added i’d like to give my testimony later I need time to prepare.”
The athlete who plays for a Russian basketball team during the WNBA’s off-season was arrested in February at a Moscow airport for allegedly possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.
She is charged with drug smuggling and illegal acquisition storage transportation manufacture processing of narcotics. Brittney pleaded guilty to all charges according to one of her lawyers who told NBC news in a statement we expect leniency of the court taking into account all the circumstances of this case the next court hearing is scheduled for July 14th.
The phoenix mercury player is facing a maximum of 10 years in prison she recently wrote to U.S President Joe Biden to try to boost U.S efforts to bring her home. Saying she was quote terrified i might be here forever.
Brittney’s wife Cherelle Griner has also been rallying behind the athlete and communicating with U.S officials to try to secure her freedom. On July 6 President Biden gave Cherelle Griner an update by phone quote “To reassure her that he is working to secure Britney’s release as soon as possible.” and to read her a draft of a letter he was sending.