Phoenix Mercury Star Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty In Russian Court

MOSCOW — Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in Russia on Thursday after she was detained in February on allegations that she brought hashish oil into the country.

Griner told the judge she brought the oil in "inadvertently" and asked the court for mercy, ESPN reported.

Griner's plea comes a day after the White House said President Joe Biden reassured Griner's wife he's working to free her as soon as possible.

Griner, 31, has been detained in Russia for more than four months and was on trial on allegations of possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. The trial began last week after her Feb. 17 arrest. She faced 10 years in prison if convicted of large-scale transportation of drugs.

Cherelle Griner has criticized the handling of her wife's case and later said she was “grateful” for the outreach, but would keep up the public pressure.

Biden's conversation with Cherelle Griner came after Brittney Griner personally appealed to the president in a handwritten letter delivered to the White House on the Fourth of July. Griner said she feared she would spend the rest of her life detained in Russia, and asked Biden not to “forget about me and the other American Detainees.”

Fewer than 1 percent of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted. Acquittals can be overturned, unlike in U.S. courts.

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The Associated Press contributed reporting.