ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR HORNETS GUARD VERNON MAXWELL

HOUSTON (AP) -- Charlotte Hornets guard Vernon Maxwell faces an arrest
warrant, following the rejection of the former Houston Rockets star's
appeal of a 1995 marijuana possession conviction.

County Court-at-Law Judge Don Jackson issued the warrant Tuesday in
response to a request by the Harris County district attorney's office.

"They urged me to issue the warrant and showed me where the appeals in
the case had been finished," Jackson said.

Jackson said he has not yet received a formal notice that Maxwell's
appeal of his sentence to the U.S. Supreme Court had failed, but
prosecutors had. The Supreme Court refused in late February to heal
Maxwell's appeal, which was based on ineffective assistance of counsel.

If Maxwell doesn't surrender in Charlotte or Houston, the Harris
County sheriff's department will ask authorities in North Carolina to
arrest the player. A deputy would then be sent to bring him back to
Texas.

Maxwell's attorney, State Rep. Ron Wilson, did not return calls seeking
comment Tuesday, the Houston Chronicle reported today.