Chris “Birdman” Andersen is not charged in connection with the 2012 investigation, but was the victim of identity theft
In the midst of the 2012 NBA playoffs, veteran center Chris “Birdman” Andersen, then a member of the Denver Nuggets and now a key player for the world champion Miami Heat, made headlines for what seemed like all the wrong reasons. Several hours before Game 6 of the Nuggets’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, a Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children (CDC) unit raided his home as part of an ongoing child pornography investigation. Andersen was not arrested or charged with a crime, but he did not play in either of the final two games of the series (including the Nuggets’ final two games of the season).
A later statement from one of Andersen’s lawyers portrayed him as a victim of extortion, but the lack of details didn’t do much to shed light on the bizarre situation. When Birdman returned to the court for the Miami Heat this season, it seemed the issue was over, or at least no longer as present in his life.
On Wednesday, Andersen received official confirmation that he would not face charges in connection with the search. In fact, he does appear to have been harmed. By John Ingold and Benjamin Hochman for The Denver Post:
Former Denver Nuggets star Chris Andersen fell victim to a large and complex online identity fraud last year when authorities raided his home, an attorney for Andersen said Wednesday.
The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Wednesday that it would not file charges against Andersen in connection with the search.
Attorney Mark Bryant said Andersen was impersonated online by a woman in Canada. The woman, who posed as Andersen, sought relationships and gifts but also threatened at least one person, Bryant said. The woman in Canada also posed as other people to Andersen online, Bryant said. (…)
“From what I understand, this case involves numerous victims,” Bryant said. “… Chris was a victim in this case.” (…)
Shelly Lynn Chartier, 29, was charged with possession and distribution of child pornography, identity fraud, extortion and uttering threats, RCMP Sergeant Line Karpish said. Karpish said Chartier lives in Easterville, Manitoba, a town of fewer than 100 people on the shores of Cedar Lake, nearly 300 miles north of Winnipeg. Chartier was charged in January and is scheduled to appear in court in October, Karpish said. (…)
I “just wanted to say thank you to everyone who supported me and knew from the beginning that this was a lie,” Andersen said in a statement leaked to The Denver Post earlier this year. “They know how much I love people, they know how much I love kids, and they know where my heart is in this community.”
This is obviously good news for Andersen, who has been a popular supporting player at several stops during his 11-year NBA career. He is also no stranger to controversy and disciplinary proceedings. In January 2006, Andersen was disqualified from the NBA for violating the league’s “substance abuse” policy and was not reinstated until March 2008. Since then, he has established himself as a reliable basket protector and athletic enforcer on offense. It’s entirely possible that the Heat would not have won the title this spring without his services.
The issues in this case go far beyond basketball, however, and this news is important simply because it allows Andersen to go about his daily activities with more peace of mind. The legal process is far from over, and it is entirely possible that Andersen will have to become involved in the prosecution of Chartier at some point. Nevertheless, we can move forward with little doubt about his role in this ordeal. Hopefully, the other victims will soon find the same peace of mind.
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