Javaris Crittenton appears in court, waives extradition proceedings

"It was told when Mr. Crittenton comes to Atlanta in the airport, he'd be taken into custody, which was fine," said Brian Steel, Crittenton's attorney. "Law enforcement officers decided otherwise, and that's what finds us here in California, and we look forward to getting back to Atlanta where it was that we were trying to get to in the first place."

The judge said Crittenton will be returned to Atlanta between Sept. 15 and Sept. 30, but Steel said he would seek to have him returned sooner.

The FBI arrested Crittenton at John Wayne Airport in Orange County on Monday about 8 p.m. after checking in for a flight to Atlanta. He was booked at LAPD headquarters.

"He has also been charged as of [Tuesday] morning with a federal violation of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution," said Laura Emiller from the FBI. "On Aug. 24 we have evidence that a ticket was purchased to Los Angeles from Georgia by Crittenton."