Authorities charged San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith with three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon. A trade for Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon, meanwhile, appears unlikely to happen.
Smith was charged with three felonies from a party at his Santa Clara, Calif. home in June 2012. The 24-year-old Pro Bowler faces a maximum of four years and four months in prison, if convicted.
"The preamble to the assault weapons law states that each assault weapon 'has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings,'" said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, via ESPN. "California's prohibition of these powerful weapons is not about hunting or target practice. It is about interrupting the long history of death, carnage and grief assault weapons have inflicted on California communities."
Smith could, at the very least, face a suspension after the case is tried.
"We've been aware of the incident, the serious nature of it. We're all accountable for our actions, good and bad," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said on Wednesday, via ESPN. "There's a process, due process, that will take place. I don't feel any need to comment further on it."
Smith has been on an indefinite leave of absence from the team to undergo substance abuse treatment after he was arrested for a DUI in September. He's expected to surrender himself to the court later this month, according to ESPN.
A trade for Gordon, meanwhile, appears unlikely. Although the 49ers were reportedly interested in acquiring Gordon to boost their depth at receiver, any kind of deal appears dead in the water, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapaport.
The Browns were asking for a second-round pick in exchange for Gordon, but the 49ers will likely wait as both receivers Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham are nearing returns, according to NFL.com.
Manningham can come off the PUP list in two weeks, and Harbaugh said on Monday that Crabtree might return in mid-November.
