Drexel, ND players arrested; Gonzalez pleads not guilty
Two Drexel University basketball players are facing robbery and weapons charges after a bizarre break and enter at a fellow student’s apartment netted the two a pair of cell phones and not much else.
According to the Philadelphia police, Jamie Harris, the team’s starting point guard and leading scorer and Kevin Phillip, a backup forward devised what would turn out to be a fruitless scheme with another Drexel student, Devin Bond. Lt. John Walker told The Associated Press that the three were after money Bond believed to be in the apartment.
Police allege that after Bond had secured entry to the building, and spoken with the roommate of the person he believed to have the money, he returned to prop open the front door where Harris and Phillip were waiting. Armed with handguns, they returned to the woman’s door, throwing Bond to the ground and pretending to rob him in what police said was an act meant to confuse the victim. The two players then pointed their guns around the woman’s apartment demanding that she hand over the money, but fled with only two cell phones.
When police arrived, Bond told them that he had been robbed, but was charged two days later after police determined he was part of the crime rather than a victim. Warrants were issued for both Harris and Phillip.
The two turned themselves in on Monday.
Harris’ attourney Robert Lynch says that the charges against his client are “unfounded.”
"These charges go against the very fiber of his character," Lynch said. "These are mere allegations, and we intend to vigorously defend him."
Drexel spokeswoman Niki Gianakaris said that the school has placed all three students on interim suspension until the investigation is complete.
Harris, who started all 32 games, averaging 14.5 points a night for the Dragons, has no prior criminal record. The 6-foot-6 Phillip averaged 2.6 points and 3.1 rebounds off the bench.
All three men face charges of robbery, theft and possession of a weapon.
Notre Dame to hold off on punishment for arrested players
Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey says he will hold off on deciding what punishments face two of his players arrested last weekend on charges of underage drinking.
Tim Abromaitis and Erik Atkins were among the 44 people arrested after police responded to reports of a fight and uncovered a party.
"It's handled downtown. It's handled by Student Affairs and then the old coach will handle it," Brey told reporters at an offseason press conference. "We'll address it. I've been here 10 years and we've had young men put themselves in position to lose. We've had that talk. We talk about that as a team."
Brey says both Abromaitis and Atkins called to inform him of the situation.
Of the 44 arrests made, 11 were Notre Dame athletes, including Quarterback Nate Montana, son of NFL Hall of Famer and former Irish QB Joe Montana.
Ex Seton Hall coach pleads not guilty to shoplifting charges
Former Seton Hall Basketball Coach Bobby Gonzalez appeared in court this past week to plead not guilty to charges of shoplifting and criminal mischief after being accused of stealing a satchel from Ralph Lauren store in a New Jersey mall.
Police reports documenting the incident suggest that Gonzalez removed a sensory device from the US$1,400 satchel before exiting the store with it. The satchel was later returned by a restaurant manager who says Gonzalez left it with a hostess, but provided no further explanation as to why.
According the Essex County Prosecutors Office, Gonzalez, who surrendered himself to the police on July 5th, could face up to five years in jail should he be found guilty.
Gonzalez was fired from Seton Hall in March after the Pirates disappointing first round loss in the NIT tournament. He has on-going lawsuit against the school claiming he was fired without cause and is owed two years worth of salary.
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