3 Griz Arrested

[BDizzle]

Well, 1) they didn't hurt anybody, 2) they didn't damage anything, 3) they didn't steal anything. They didn't even "break and enter," they just climbed up a ladder that happened to be there, into an unfinished building project. Sounds like they were waiting for their ride -- no DUI's -- and thought they'd take a look.

As the homeowner noted, they probably didn't realize that the renovation project was not freestanding, but attached to an occupied house.

At the worst, this is misdemeanor trespass, on Halloween. When I was a judge, this would have been a 6 month deferred imposition of sentence, and then dismissed. Not to downplay the fact that Griz players have to meet a higher standard, and this was just unbelievably stupid, but there just doesn't appear to have been a criminal purpose here.

From the Kaimin article, I doubt that the homeowner will want to press charges, and in that case there would be no prosecution, but in this case the decision becomes a political one as to whether to charge them or not, because of who they are.

Homeowner mentioned he heard them talking about taking stuff. So they had the intent to steal. That's felony burglary right there. But I'm no judge.

 

[Ursus1]

Being out at that time of night during the season, "trespassing" at minimum, embarrassing the Griz team, coaches, fans, alum, donors after a loss was more important to them than sleep and being as physically ready to do 100% to win the next games should be reclassified as a "felony" for Griz players (who cares what other schools etc. will excuse as no big deal) These selfish players like that have no business wearing jerseys with Montana on the front. Stitt, send them packing, send a message that you want players representing the University of Montana to be ones that alumni, Missoula, Montana and Griz Nation to be proud to let wear jerseys with Montana on them. No exceptions. Crit/Burke type are what we want here. Those of you who think it was just a little thing, I will never understand how you think. Accepting the scholarships, being allowed to wear that jersey is a privilege, not a right. It comes with expectations and a higher level of scrutiny than a normal college kid. That honor of wearing the maroon is earned.

 

[UMGriz75]

Homeowner mentioned he heard them talking about taking stuff. So they had the intent to steal. That's felony burglary right there. But I'm no judge.

Not sure what would be on a construction site that would go back down a ladder. "Look Courtney, we have a table saw!" I've been on construction sites where I was just amazed at the tools left lying around that anybody could walk off the sidewalk and walk off with, and have probably said something like "good grief, I could just walk off with this stuff," without any intent to do so.

 

[Plainsman]

Being out at that time of night during the season, "trespassing" at minimum, embarrassing the Griz team, coaches, fans, alum, donors after a loss was more important to them than sleep and being as physically ready to do 100% to win the next games should be reclassified as a "felony" for Griz players (who cares what other schools etc. will excuse as no big deal) These selfish players like that have no business wearing jerseys with Montana on the front. Stitt, send them packing, send a message that you want players representing the University of Montana to be ones that alumni, Missoula, Montana and Griz Nation to be proud to let wear jerseys with Montana on them. No exceptions. Crit/Burke type are what we want here. Those of you who think it was just a little thing, I will never understand how you think. Accepting the scholarships, being allowed to wear that jersey is a privilege, not a right. It comes with expectations and a higher level of scrutiny than a normal college kid. That honor of wearing the maroon is earned.

THIS!!!

 

[mikegriz]

Send the shitheads packing. If Stitt is worth a shit he will. Season is basically lost anyway, give others playing time.

Yep. We're screwed without VanAckeren, but that's world class stupid. Coach needs to make a statement

 

[mikegriz]

Being out at that time of night during the season, "trespassing" at minimum, embarrassing the Griz team, coaches, fans, alum, donors after a loss was more important to them than sleep and being as physically ready to do 100% to win the next games should be reclassified as a "felony" for Griz players (who cares what other schools etc. will excuse as no big deal) These selfish players like that have no business wearing jerseys with Montana on the front. Stitt, send them packing, send a message that you want players representing the University of Montana to be ones that alumni, Missoula, Montana and Griz Nation to be proud to let wear jerseys with Montana on them. No exceptions. Crit/Burke type are what we want here. Those of you who think it was just a little thing, I will never understand how you think. Accepting the scholarships, being allowed to wear that jersey is a privilege, not a right. It comes with expectations and a higher level of scrutiny than a normal college kid. That honor of wearing the maroon is earned.

THIS!!!

+1

 

[bandit218]

I'm no judge, but I believe you can't use "being under the influence of a substance" as a defense for being stupid. I would kick their butts off the team whether found guilty for burglary or not. Based solely on the fact that they made a family, of this community, fearful for their lives. From the quotes in the article, it's a family that isn't out to drag the team through the mud again. Homeowner had no idea if it was a real threat or not. My daughter would be totally incapable of sleeping in her bedroom alone for a long while. No excuse. These guys knew they were doing wrong.

 

[UMGriz75]

I'm no judge, but I believe you can't use "being under the influence of a substance" as a defense for being stupid.

I didn't see any references in the Kaimin article to overt intoxication. "Being Stupid" doesn't require any particular BAC.

 

[yellowstone60]

“You have the name of a state across your chest, and you have the name of a university that you carry with you wherever you go, and with that comes a great deal of responsibility,” Haslam continued..”That being said, the entire football and athletic staff will do all we can to support our student athletes through this time, but there is a level of behavior that we will uphold.”

Read More: Three UM Football Players Charged With Felony Burglary - Two Are Starters | http://newstalkkgvo.com/three-um-football-players-charged-with-felony-burglary-two-are-starters-two-others-also-arrested/?trackback=tsmclip

 

[Ken Jones]

Halloween high jinks and juvenile behavior ... no injuries ... nothing stole ... no damage ... lesson learned ... let 'em out.

 

[first11]

Being out at that time of night during the season, "trespassing" at minimum, embarrassing the Griz team, coaches, fans, alum, donors after a loss was more important to them than sleep and being as physically ready to do 100% to win the next games should be reclassified as a "felony" for Griz players (who cares what other schools etc. will excuse as no big deal) These selfish players like that have no business wearing jerseys with Montana on the front. Stitt, send them packing, send a message that you want players representing the University of Montana to be ones that alumni, Missoula, Montana and Griz Nation to be proud to let wear jerseys with Montana on them. No exceptions. Crit/Burke type are what we want here. Those of you who think it was just a little thing, I will never understand how you think. Accepting the scholarships, being allowed to wear that jersey is a privilege, not a right. It comes with expectations and a higher level of scrutiny than a normal college kid. That honor of wearing the maroon is earned.

THIS!!!

Yes!

+1

 

[ilovethecats]

Homeowner mentioned he heard them talking about taking stuff. So they had the intent to steal. That's felony burglary right there. But I'm no judge.

Not sure what would be on a construction site that would go back down a ladder. "Look Courtney, we have a table saw!" I've been on construction sites where I was just amazed at the tools left lying around that anybody could walk off the sidewalk and walk off with, and have probably said something like "good grief, I could just walk off with this stuff," without any intent to do so.

i'm not saying you are wrong. you could be spot on. but i feel like your last couple posts are making some leaps. are you familiar with this particular house? it says it was under renovation. renovations are many things. for all i know the family could have had any number of belongings in that space, renovation or not. could it be just a table saw, maybe a hammer, perhaps a drill? sure. it also could be anything else in an unfinished portion of a persons home.

it also says that a few rooms on the first and second floor aren't connected to the main house. however, it doesn't say that this is a construction zone and obviously one way or another they were close to the main house because the owner could hear them walking around and talking upstairs. who knows what this family, and particularly the kids were going through while these kids were on/in their property.

like i said, for all i know you could be spot on. but unless you are familiar with the home, family, and situation all together more than what has been published...you seem to be dismissing any possibility that this could be anything more then a couple kids crawling up a ladder to a construction site playfully commenting they could walk away with items a worker had left behind.

 

[nzone]

Halloween high jinks and juvenile behavior ... no injuries ... nothing stole ... no damage ... lesson learned ... let 'em out.

I agree felony charges will be mitigated but football at UM probably won't happen. Unfortunate series of events for these young men. I am totally surprised Van Akeren is in this position.

 

[UMGriz75]

like i said, for all i know you could be spot on. but unless you are familiar with the home, family, and situation all together more than what has been published...you seem to be dismissing any possibility that this could be anything more then a couple kids crawling up a ladder to a construction site playfully commenting they could walk away with items a worker had left behind.

I am familiar with the house, don't know the owners. I am not "dismissing any possibilities," I am pointing to the "possibilities."

 

[GrizLA]

Well, 1) they didn't hurt anybody, 2) they didn't damage anything, 3) they didn't steal anything. They didn't even "break and enter," they just climbed up a ladder that happened to be there, into an unfinished building project. Sounds like they were waiting for their ride -- no DUI's -- and thought they'd take a look.

As the homeowner noted, they probably didn't realize that the renovation project was not freestanding, but attached to an occupied house.

At the worst, this is misdemeanor trespass, on Halloween. When I was a judge, this would have been a 6 month deferred imposition of sentence, and then dismissed. Not to downplay the fact that Griz players have to meet a higher standard, and this was just unbelievably stupid, but there just doesn't appear to have been a criminal purpose here.

From the Kaimin article, I doubt that the homeowner will want to press charges, and in that case there would be no prosecution, but in this case the decision becomes a political one as to whether to charge them or not, because of who they are.

This is surprisingly similar to the type of things I once heard, years ago, from U of Nebraska fans when their guy, Phillips was going to be removed before a supposed mythical nat'l champ bowl....when it comes to athletics, it seems some things never change. This is very disappointing for alumni, fans, and players.

 

[GrizLA]

Being out at that time of night during the season, "trespassing" at minimum, embarrassing the Griz team, coaches, fans, alum, donors after a loss was more important to them than sleep and being as physically ready to do 100% to win the next games should be reclassified as a "felony" for Griz players (who cares what other schools etc. will excuse as no big deal) These selfish players like that have no business wearing jerseys with Montana on the front. Stitt, send them packing, send a message that you want players representing the University of Montana to be ones that alumni, Missoula, Montana and Griz Nation to be proud to let wear jerseys with Montana on them. No exceptions. Crit/Burke type are what we want here. Those of you who think it was just a little thing, I will never understand how you think. Accepting the scholarships, being allowed to wear that jersey is a privilege, not a right. It comes with expectations and a higher level of scrutiny than a normal college kid. That honor of wearing the maroon is earned.

Yes, well said!

 

[AZGrizFan]

Halloween high jinks and juvenile behavior ... no injuries ... nothing stole ... no damage ... lesson learned ... let 'em out.

I agree felony charges will be mitigated but football at UM probably won't happen. Unfortunate series of events for these young men. I am totally surprised Van Akeren is in this position.

If felony charges are dropped, this moves from a Category I to a II or III, then being kicked off the team isn't a given.

 

[Ursa Major]

Being out at that time of night during the season, "trespassing" at minimum, embarrassing the Griz team, coaches, fans, alum, donors after a loss was more important to them than sleep and being as physically ready to do 100% to win the next games should be reclassified as a "felony" for Griz players (who cares what other schools etc. will excuse as no big deal) These selfish players like that have no business wearing jerseys with Montana on the front. Stitt, send them packing, send a message that you want players representing the University of Montana to be ones that alumni, Missoula, Montana and Griz Nation to be proud to let wear jerseys with Montana on them. No exceptions. Crit/Burke type are what we want here. Those of you who think it was just a little thing, I will never understand how you think. Accepting the scholarships, being allowed to wear that jersey is a privilege, not a right. It comes with expectations and a higher level of scrutiny than a normal college kid. That honor of wearing the maroon is earned.

Yes, well said!

Look guys, we're all pissed about this but the emotional outbursts are silly and a waste of time and energy. This isn't your high school football program. As has been described by others, there is a disciplinary process in place now, Coach Stitt isn't making the decisions on the punishment. I was livid when I first heard this news. But we have a disciplinary process in place. Let the process work. We can judge its effectiveness when this is behind us.

 

[Ursus1]

Coach should (not saying he does ) have the right to remove players who are guilty of their actions being detrimental to the team regardless of criminal charge levels. And this fits that bill. Bad press like this hurts the program.

 

[GrizWhiz]

“You have the name of a state across your chest, and you have the name of a university that you carry with you wherever you go, and with that comes a great deal of responsibility,” Haslam continued..”That being said, the entire football and athletic staff will do all we can to support our student athletes through this time, but there is a level of behavior that we will uphold.”

Read More: Three UM Football Players Charged With Felony Burglary - Two Are Starters | http://newstalkkgvo.com/three-um-football-players-charged-with-felony-burglary-two-are-starters-two-others-also-arrested/?trackback=tsmclip

Given the info in the Kaimin article, I seriously doubt they have been or will be "charged with felony burglary". At this point, they probably have not been charged with anything. That will probably be determined tomorrow.