WAYNE COUNTY

Ex-MSU star Appling's case heads to trial court

Nicquel Terry
The Detroit News

Detroit — A case against former Michigan State basketball star Keith Appling, who faces two separate gun charges, will move to a trial court.

A calendar conference for Appling has been set for 9 a.m. Aug. 26 in Wayne County Circuit Judge Lawrence Talon’s courtroom where trial dates will be set.

The court held a disposition conference for Appling on Friday for a concealed weapon charge that stems from a July 18 incident in Detroit.

However, a plea deal could not be reached.

Authorities say during a traffic stop in Detroit, Appling had a handgun and was trying to stuff a white T-shirt containing a magazine fitting for the weapon behind an infant car seat.

Appling, who was a passenger in the vehicle, allegedly told the officers that the gun was his and that it was registered. Officers said no paperwork on the police stop was ever produced showing that Appling said he had a permit to carry the gun.

Appling also had an arraignment on information for a May 1 police stop outside the Pantheon strip club in Dearborn where police say he was seen pulling a gun out of the trunk of a car.

After a search, police say they found a handgun under the driver’s seat, a small amount of what they believe to be marijuana, and a loaded weapon in the trunk.

Appling was arrested at the scene.

The court entered a not guilty plea for Appling on Friday.

Appling, who starred at Detroit Pershing, played at Michigan State from 2010-14, starting 132 games for the Spartans. He averaged 11.2 points and 4.5 assists as a senior. He played five games last season for the NBA’s Orlando Magic, spending most of the season with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA D-League.

nterry@detroitnews.com

@NicquelTerry