Chris Webber's sentencing on a contempt charge was delayed for two years while the star basketball player participates in a summer reading program with Detroit schoolchildren, a federal judge said Tuesday. If Webber fulfills that obligation, he likely won't face further punishment.

"I'm not ready to make a final determination whether it's a misdemeanor or a felony," U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds said Tuesday of Webber's contempt charge.

After the five-minute hearing, attended by Webber and a throng of reporters, assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino, the lead prosecutor on the case, stormed out of the courtroom without commenting.

Edmunds said she was swayed, in part, by "scores of letters" she received from Webber's supporters.

"I believe that Mr. Webber understands the seriousness of his offense and that he's remorseful," Edmunds said.

For the next two summers, Webber will serve as a mentor in the Butzel Middle School summer program, spending 150 hours each in 2004 and 2005 teaching reading, math, science and living skills to the children.

The summer school will last four to six weeks, and is run by a number of agencies and organizations -- including the Spencer Haywood Foundation. Haywood, a former University of Detroit and NBA star, attended the hearing.