Jeremiah Masoli, starting quarterback for the Oregon football team, and former receiver Garrett Embry pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary this afternoon in Lane County Circuit Court.
In conjunction with the guilty plea, head coach Chip Kelly has suspended Masoli for the entire 2010 season.
Kelly also announced he is suspending running back LaMichael James, who pleaded guilty to an assault charge earlier today, and kicker Rob Beard, who was convicted of assault earlier this month, with the opener against New Mexico.
“I am extremely disappointed anytime any of our players fall short of our expectations that have been clearly outlined for them in advance on numerous occasions, and this is especially true regarding their roles within the community,” Kelly said in a press release. “Their accountability for their actions is paramount and any tainting of the reputation of the University of Oregon and this football program will not be tolerated.”
Masoli and Embry admitted to being at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity on Jan. 24, where they stole two Apple laptops and a projector. The projector was returned, but the laptops were never recovered.
Based on the guilty plea filed jointly by the two, they are charged with a misdemeanor count of burglary instead of a felony. District Attorney Alex Gardner said the type of felony they were facing was a Class C type, which is sometimes reduced to a misdemeanor.
Masoli and Embry — as part of the plea deal — face probation a year on probation, 140 hours community service, and the two must pay full restitution to the victims within the next 10 days. The total owed amounts to approximately $5,000.
Gardner said the restitution is higher than what normally is paid and it was part of the reasons things went so smoothly. The victims from SAE knew of the plea deal, and they were willing to cooperate.
“What they ended up with under Oregon law is more money than what they would have normally received,” Gardner said. “They were very supportive. We cannot always make people happy…but in this case they were supportive of the resolution.”
Fingerprints did not connect Masoli to the crime at the scene, however, Gardner said there was enough evidence to still convict him.
“There had been some other surveillance,” Gardner said. “There had been witnesses who had come forward. I’m sure you guys all heard the 9-1-1 tape. The reason the victim is out of breath is because he’s out of breath from chasing Mr. Embry. There were many other circumstances that made it clear he was present.”
An affidavit for a search warrant was also released to the public for the first time, describing the interviews Eugene police Detective Julie Smith did after the theft. According to the affidavit, Smith interviewed Masoli on Jan. 25 and he denied any involvement. Masoli claimed he was at Taylor’s Bar and Grille from 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Smith also interviewed Chip Kelly, who said Masoli told him he wasn’t at SAE.
An interview with Masoli’s cousin, Taugaluia Lefiti, corroborated Masoli’s story.
But surveillance footage from Taylor’s showed that Masoli didn’t arrive at Taylor’s until 12:51 a.m. with Lefiti. Also, phone records show Masoli was on the phone with his girlfriend for 75 minutes starting at 11:27 p.m., disproving his statement that he was socializing with friends.
This ends more than a month’s speculation about whether or not Masoli was even involved. Gardner said that it takes time in cases like this to gather all the details.
“It’s not unusual (to take a while),” Gardner said. “Sometimes when police arrive on the scene the facts are immediately apparent and the witnesses are all there. But in some, things aren’t immediately available, and you have to root around. There are also complications on getting access to the information. But it’s not unusual to take 30 days to develop a burglary case.”
From here, it is unknown what Masoli will do. In Kelly’s press release it says Masoli would be eligible to use a redshirt next season, however, he would have to meet specific guidelines the two have set out.
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Masoli suspended for 2010 season
Daily Emerald
March 11, 2010
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