Feb 20, 3:54 PM EST
Gonzaga Center Heytvelt Faces Drug Trial
By JOHN K. WILEY
Associated Press Writer
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Suspended Gonzaga center Josh Heytvelt is being charged with felony possession of a controlled substance following his Feb. 9 arrest, when police said they found hallucinogenic mushrooms in his car.
According to court documents released Tuesday, police found 33.2 grams - just over an ounce - of mushrooms inside a plastic ziplock bag in the back of the Chevrolet Blazer that Heytvelt was driving. Possession of any amount of illegal mushrooms is a Class C felony.
Heytvelt, 20, and teammate Theo Davis, 21, were arrested in Cheney on Feb. 9 and booked into Spokane County Jail. They were released the next day on their own recognizance.
Davis, a redshirt freshman who has not played because of injuries, will be referred to Cheney municipal court on a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession. Police allege they found a partial marijuana cigarette in Davis's pocket.
If convicted, Heytvelt faces a maximum prison sentence of five years and a $10,000 fine. But Assistant Spokane County Prosecutor John Grasso said a typical sentence for a first-time drug offender is six months or fewer, and the sophomore could be given a lesser sentence if he agrees to a structured diversion program.
Heytvelt and his attorney will be arraigned sometime in the next two weeks, Grasso said.
Heytvelt, a 6-foot-11 sophomore center-forward, was the team's second leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points. He was the leading rebounder, with 7.7 per game.
After their arrests, coach Mark Few placed the players on indefinite suspension for breaking team rules. Heytvelt has not played in the four games since his arrest.
Gonzaga University's position has not changed now that formal charges have brought against the two students, spokesman Dale Goodwin said Tuesday.
Final disciplinary action by the university would wait until the legal process has run its course, Goodwin said.
Dennis Thompson, a Spokane lawyer who represents the pair, was not in his office Tuesday morning and was unavailable for comment, a secretary said.
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