NBA Rookie of the Year Allen Iverson was expected to appear in a New Kent County court Tuesday following his arrest earlier this month on drug possession and weapons charges.

The electric point guard of the Philadelphia 76ers, who was arrested Aug. 3, said early this month that he would plead innocent to the charges, but he could also enter a plea agreement at Tuesday's hearing.

Iverson has hired the law firm of Shuttleworth, Ruloff & Giordano of Virginia Beach, Va., which represented Iverson following a bowling alley brawl four years ago.

The firm released a four-paragraph statement regarding their client.

"On August 3, 1997, Allen Iverson did not commit any drug or firearm offense," a portion of the statement read. "He looks forward to his day in court when all of the facts will be fully presented. Mr. Iverson will plead not guilty to all charges."

Iverson is charged with misdemeanor possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana and possession of a weapon while in possession of a controlled substance.

Iverson allegedly was a passenger in his own Mercedes, which was clocked at 93 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 64 in Talleysville, about 20 miles east of Richmond.

When trooper Michael Pierce pulled over the vehicle, he smelled marijuana, and Iverson was charged with marijuana possession. Iverson also was hit with the weapons charge after a .45-caliber handgun was found on the front floorboard of the car.

Iverson, who admitted earlier this year that he carries a gun in his car, claimed the weapon was his.

Because the marijuana recovered was less than the one pound required to trigger the charge, the weapons infraction likely will be dropped.