Nearly a month after his arrest for his alleged involvement in a fatal drive-by shooting in Atlanta, ex-Laker Javaris Crittenton was released from jail on a $230,000 bond, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  

Still, a Fulton County judge found probable cause to charge Crittenton with murder and is requiring Crittenton to wear an ankle bracelet so that he can't attempt to skip out on his pending trial beginning Oct. 25.

"I guess the judge made the decision that he’s not a danger to the community, which is odd, given the charges,” Gwinett County Dist. Atty.  Danny Porter told the AJC's Marcus K. Garner. “It's not unheard of, but it's rare." 

Authorities allege that Crittenton fatally shot Julian Jones on Aug. 19 in the woman's driveway in Atlanta after targeting a man in her group he believed stole his jewelry.  He has been charged  with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and gun possession. During the bond hearing on Tuesday, Crittenton’s attorney, Brian Steel,  reportedly called upon various supporters, including character witnesses and a petition signed by more than 1,000 people asking for Crittenton's release. “Those 1,000 people couldn’t save that innocent woman,” Assistant Dist. Atty. Jack Barrs reportedly said.

Previously, Crittenton had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation on a misdemeanor gun possession charge stemming from his confrontation with teammate Gilbert Arenas in the Washington Wizards' locker room in 2009. Both players were fined and suspended by the NBA for the rest of the season. 

Crittenton played a limited role with the Lakers after they selected him with the 19th pick in the 2007 NBA draft, appearing in 22 games and averaging 3.3 points. He was part of the seven-player trade with the Memphis Grizzlies that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers.

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--Mark Medina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Former Laker Javaris Crittenton. Credit: Los Angeles Times