DENVER -- Nuggets All-Star Carmelo Anthony pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of driving while ability-impaired and was sentenced to probation and community service.
Prosecutors dropped a more serious DUI charge.
"I'm happy that it's over so I get a chance to take care of my business," Anthony said.
Anthony also pleaded guilty to failure to stay in a single lane. He was ordered to serve one year on probation, perform 24 hours of community service and pay $1,000 in fees and court costs.
Defense attorney Dan Recht was happy with the deal but said Anthony would have gotten a better offer if he weren't a professional basketball player.
"If anything, he was punished more than the average Joe would be punished," Recht said. "The system is always worried about treating celebrities too nicely."
In two days this week, the 24-year-old Anthony has been chosen for the U.S. Olympic team, suspended by his team for two games because of the DUI arrest, named to a State Patrol driving-safety program and now sentenced on the reduced charges.
Last month in a separate incident, Anthony was ticketed for driving 60 mph in a 45-mph zone and paid a $130 fine.
Anthony, who signed a five-year, $80 million extension in 2006, has also been the topic of trade rumors, but he said Tuesday he expects to remain with the Nuggets for the foreseeable future.
"I hope so," he said with a grin. "I plan to be."
He said he felt better about his future with the team after a conversation Monday with Rex Chapman, Denver's vice president of player personnel.
"It shows some loyalty to me," Anthony said.
Anthony's agent, Calvin Andrews, also doesn't see his client going anywhere.
Scilian Lou 
