March 5, 2005

Gamecock players charged with theft, burglary (updated)

WLTX reports that fingerprints found at the scene of a theft on the South Carolina campus match the fingerprints of two Gamecock football players. The unidentified victim of the crime told the television station that she had more than $500 worth of video equipment stolen from her dormitory room last week and that police found fingerprints matching those of two players whom she refused to name. A university spokesman confirms an ongoing investigation but won't confirm it centers on football players.

Unsubstantiated rumors are already afloat that name one of the players involved and indicate he is now off the team. This latest news comes less than a day after Demetris Summers was kicked off the team, reportedly for violating athletic department drug policies.

UPDATE: WLTX now reports that freshman defensive end Kevin Tyler Mainord has been arrested and charged with two counts of first degree burglary and two counts of larceny. No mention was made of the other set of fingerprints belonging to a football player supposedly found at the scene.

UPDATE 2 WIS reports (and jail records confirm) that Mainord was charged with burglary for allegedly stealing a television and DVDs from the dorm room and that the two larceny charges relate to allegations he stole bicycles. Mainord was allegedly sent home from his official visit for misconduct at Alabama and switched his committment to South Carolina shortly thereafter.

UPDATE 3: Phil Kornblut reports that Mainord has been indefinitely suspended from the team and that senior defensive end Moe Thompson, who has already been suspended from the season opener for his role in the brawl at the Clemson game, is also facing criminal charges but hasn't been arrested yet.

UPDATE 4 The AP ties up some loose ends:

Defensive end Moe Thompson, a junior, and tackle Kevin Mainord, a redshirt freshman, have been suspended, athletics spokesman Kerry Tharp said Wednesday.

Mainord was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree burglary and two counts of simple larceny. Thompson has not been arrested or charged in the incident, university spokesman Russ McKinney said.

Mainord and Thompson entered a room about 3:30 a.m. Feb. 23 while the female residents were sleeping and Mainord admitted to taking a television and DVD player as well as $12, according to an arrest warrant.

A second arrested warrant states Mainord entered another dorm room and stole a television with another person, but it does not name Thompson.

[...]

He [Thompson] also was one of several players not allowed to work out with the team last summer because of poor classroom attendance.

[...]

"We've had some misfortune over the past several days with some of our student-athletes," Tharp said. "However I can assure you this athletics department and football coaching staff will handle this situation decisively and appropriately."

3/3/05
UPDATE 5
The State reports that Moe Thompson has also been charged with 5 counts similar to Mainord's charges but that Thompson has not been arrested yet. They also have further information from the police reports as well as a quote from Thompson's mother.

Coach Steve Spurrier has issued a statement:

"We are all extremely embarrassed by the alleged actions of two of our current players. As head coach, I apologize to everyone who loves the University of South Carolina," Spurrier said in a statement.

" ... I can assure you that if these charges prove to be true, these two will never wear the garnet and black and represent our university on the football field."

UPDATE 6
WIS reports that Mainord will not have a bond hearing until Friday and that Thompson has not been arrested or charged yet.

3/4/05
UPDATE 7: The State reports that U.S.C. police have contacted other local law enforcement agencies to inform them they have an outstanding arrest warrant for Moe Thompson. They hope to have him arrested before spring break on campus starts today. Neither Thompson nor his mother could be reached by reporters.

Thompson and Mainord will not have a chance at pre-trial intervention since first-degree burglary is a violent crime under state law. A university spokesman confirmed that police questioned other athletes as part of their investigation.

Spurrier also told reporters that he was lifting the long-standing ban on Gamecock players transferring to other SEC schools or to rival Clemson. In the same news conference Spurrier said, "I have a policy that says any person who brings complete embarrassment to our football program is subject to not being with us."

3/5/05
UPDATE 8: Bond was set at $20,000 yesterday for Mainord, who was released later in the day. Mainord has been kicked out of the dorm where the thefts took place. Thompson has still not been found.

His mother claims he left town after meeting with Spurrier earlier and that his attorney made arrangements for him to turn himself in after break. A university spokesman and a spokeswoman for prosecutors dispute that claim. His mother said he was not in Columbia but she refused to say where he is.

There is a possibility that Thompson, who considered turning pro this year, may try to enter the supplemental draft.

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