WASHINGTON – Former Terp basketball star Lonny Baxter was sentenced yesterday to 60 days in jail by a D.C. Superior Court judge one week after police said shots were fired from Baxter’s vehicle two blocks from the White House.

Baxter faced felony charges of possessing an unregistered pistol after police found the weapon in the center console of his Range Rover during a traffic stop. He pleaded guilty to that charge, as well as two misdemeanor counts of possessing unregistered ammunition and posessing an unregistered firearm, and he admitted to firing the gun from his window.

The guilty plea was entered as part of an agreement forged between Baxter and prosecutors that would have allowed him to be released on time served with probation, allowing Baxter to start playing for Italian team Montepaschi Siena when its season begins in October. Baxter signed with the team Aug. 7.

Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe was skeptical of the agreement, however, telling prosecutors, “In my experience, it is highly unusual to offer a deferred sentencing in a felony matter.”

Iscoe cited a previous gun charge on Baxter’s record as a reason for the sentence. In 2004, Baxter was arrested after his shotgun accidentally went off in his Connecticut Avenue home, shattering a neighbor’s window across the street. No one was injured, and Baxter was charged for possessing an unregistered firearm, for which he served two years of probation.

The decision stunned family and supporters of Baxter in attendance, several of whom were in tears. Coach Gary Williams also attended the sentencing and spoke in support of the man he coached to the university’s first championship title in 2002.

Williams told the court Baxter is “a very hardworking individual who gradually became a good basketball player” and a leader on campus. “I think the future for Lonny can be very positive,” he said.

Baxter expressed remorse for his actions prior to his sentencing, telling the court, “I’d like to apologize to the court, the District of Columbia and to my family for a careless, selfish and stupid act.”

“It’s not sufficient to say I’m sorry and it won’t happen again,” Iscoe told Baxter as he handed down the 60-day sentence. Iscoe also sentenced Baxter to 18 months of probation following his release and 200 hours of community service, 100 hours more than the plea agreement requested.

The sentence could complicate Baxter’s plans to play for Italy’s team, which begins its season in October.

“The judge has indicated a willingness to allow him to travel, but that’s still up in the air,” said Baxter’s attorney Richard Finci in a press conference following the sentencing.

Baxter was scheduled to leave the day following his arrest for training in Italy.

Siena’s general manager Ferdinando Minucci said if Baxter arrives in Italy soon, “there won’t be any problems,” reported the Associated Press. “But if he can’t come for a month or two, we can’t wait that long.”

The Athletics Department declined to comment for this story.

Contact reporter Alan J. McCombs at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.