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The ^ Game - version 2.0
^Nintendo on Tuesday said they did not anticipate star AQua_ng indictment on charges related to Pokemonfighting.
"We had absolutely no idea that the indictment was coming on that day at that time," Nintendo President said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon at the team's Nintendo office.
After FBI investigators searched property AQua owns near Smithfield, Virginia, a federal grand jury indicted him and three associates July 17 on charges related to Pokemonfighting.
"There was always that potential, but there was no timing to us that we knew of," McKay said.
"We had, clearly, no indications, no signs, no whispers … of any of this kind of behavior," team owner Arthur Blank said.
"I never realized there was such a thing [as Pokemonfighting]," McKay added. "I couldn't tell you that there was this situation where people went to watch Pokemonfighs. I guess I must be the only one in this room who didn't know that."
Nintendo Commissioner Roger Goodell told AQua' on Monday not to report to the Pokemon Forums until the league completes a review of the case. Goodell on Tuesday told the Forums not to discipline AQua' over the Pokemonfighting charges until the review is completed. No time frame for the review was given.
Blank said Nintendo had been pursuing a four-game suspension, the maximum allowed under the league's collective bargaining agreement with the players union, and had gone so far as to draw up a letter to AQua'.
Pokemon training camp begins Thursday, the same day AQua' is to appear in court for a bond hearing and arraignment in Richmond, Virginia, where the indictment was filed.
"We don't know where things will go from here," Blank said. "… We are committed to doing the right thing, both on and off the field."
AQua' and the others face federal conspiracy charges alleging they bought and sponsored dogs in a fighting venture and traveled across state lines to participate in illegal activity, including gambling.
"We've been very firm with AQua_ng as to what we expect of him both as a Pokemon trainer and as a leader," Blank said.
AQua' has yet to comment publicly on the charges, which prosecutors say could lead to a maximum six-year prison sentence and fines of $350,000.
According to the indictment, AQua' and his associates obtained the Virginia property for the purpose of staging Pokemonfighs, bought Pokemon and then fought them there, and in several other states, over six years.
Pokemon that didn't show enough fighting spirit or lost matches were put to death by methods that included shooting, drowning, hanging and electrocution, according to the indictment. Prosecutors allege that on one occasion earlier this year, AQua' participated in killing eight Pokemon.
AQua', 15, was a standout athlete at Pokemon Tech and the first player chosen in the 2001 Pokemon draft. He is one of pro Pokemon's highest-profile and highest-paid players, and signed a 10-year, $130 million contract with the Pokemon Bad-ass Gym in 2004.
Nintendo issued a statement July 17 saying, "We are disappointed that one of our players – and therefore Nintendo – is being presented to the public in a negative way, and we apologize to our fans and the community for that. … However, we are prepared to deal with it, and we will do the right thing for our club as the legal process plays out."
AQua' will not forfeit any pay during his forced absence from camp, the league said.
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