Bowman, Taylor sentenced to 1 year of probation, community service
Associated Press
BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Two Penn State football players pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor charge in connection with an on-campus fight last year, resolving the last of the major legal problems for current team members.
Linebacker Navorro Bowman and defensive tackle Phil Taylor pleaded guilty Friday to a disorderly conduct charge in exchange for prosecutors' dropping more serious assault charges.
"You're never pleased to have to plead to anything," said Taylor's defense attorney Ron McGlaughlin.
"But from the standpoint that the matter is finally over with, I think it worked out appropriately."
The players were sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service by Centre County Judge Bradley P. Lunsford, who gave the players a stern lecture about being role models.
Taylor, who will be a junior in the fall, and Bowman, who will be a redshirt sophomore, had been kicked off the team while their cases were pending.
Sports information director Jeff Nelson said he has not received any update that would indicate either players' status with the team had changed.
Bowman and Taylor are among a number of Penn State football players who have been charged over the last year in connection to assaults.
"A lot of kids look up to them," McGlaughlin said, recounting Lunsford's talk. "When they act or engage in problems they obviously cause more problems than they realize."
Bowman's attorney, Stacy Parks Miller, said her client is eager to move on.
"My client's pleased to put this behind him, get on with his life, play football again and get back to school," Miller said.
Although authorities said more than a dozen players were seen on video surveillance near the altercation, police ultimately charged three players with beating a Philadelphia man who was attending a party at the campus student center Oct. 7.
Defensive tackle Chris Baker pleaded guilty to simple assault earlier this month and was sentenced to probation. Cornerback Knowledge Timmons -- who was charged for an altercation after the fight -- was placed in a probation program that will allow his record to be expunged upon completion.
Together, Bowman and Taylor must also pay more than $750 in restitution to the victim, and to the university for costs related to the clean up from the fight.
The cases were the last involving current football players being handled by Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira.
Former receiver Chris Bell still faces charges for threatening another player with a knife in a campus dining hall, but he was kicked off the team shortly after being charged.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
ESPN - Bowman, Taylor sentenced to 1 year of probation, community service - College Football
1 comment:
What is happening in the world of sports???????!!!????
Post a Comment