Hornets guard Darrell Armstrong, signed as a free agent last month, is expected to enter a plea on the charge of battery against a police officer in three weeks or so and could miss regular-season games if the case goes to trial.

The Orange-Osceola (Fla.) County state attorney's office filed the felony charge Wednesday against Armstrong, along with a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence.

Armstrong, who spent nine seasons with the Orlando Magic, was arrested July 7 outside an Orlando nightclub after an altercation with a police officer.

"It normally takes 21 days for an arraignment hearing to occur," said Randy Means, spokesman for Orange-Osceola state attorney Lawson Lamar. "He doesn't have to appear (for the arraignment) if he decides to have a written plea given to us by his attorney."

Means said there is no way to say this soon whether the case will go to trial. If it does, Armstrong could miss some regular-season games. The Hornets begin training camp Oct. 2, and their regular-season opener is against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 29 .

More than 80 percent of cases similar to Armstrong's are settled before trial, Means said. But if Armstrong is convicted, he could face a maximum jail sentence of up to five years and $5,000 in fines. His misdemeanor charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail.