ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR, charges may be dropped against roommates Scott Johnson and Darryl Presley.
No verdict was rendered Wednesday in Charlottesville in the petty larceny case involving University of Virginia basketball players Scott Johnson and Darryl Presley.
The freshmen roommates' case was taken under advisement for a year by Albemarle County General District court judge Lee McGratty. Johnson and Presley each will be required to perform 100 hours of community service in the next calendar year.
Taking the case under advisement means that with good behavior, the charges of petty larceny will be removed from the players' records after a year. They are scheduled to return to court for a hearing on April 9, 1997.
``It's sort of like putting them on probation,'' a court spokeswoman said. Judge McGratty ``has done that on occasion. He tries to help young people.''
Johnson and Presley were arrested Feb.13 on charges of petty larceny, a misdemeanor. They were accused of shoplifting $200 worth of merchandise Dec.17 from the Leggett department store in Fashion Square Mall in Charlottesville.
Presley continued to practice, but Johnson quit the team before the ACC tournament.
Presley, reached by telephone at his dormitory room Wednesday, said he ``has no plans right now,'' regarding his future with the basketball team or the university. Johnson, a 6-10 forward, on Tuesday said, ``With the honor system and everything, I'm kind of just taking it day by day.''
If Johnson and Presley are found guilty of a violation of the university's honor system, they would be subject to automatic dismissal from school. It is not known whether an honor investigation is under way. Stealing is a violation of the honor system.
Johnson, a native of Marietta, Ga., will not return to the team by mutual agreement between the player and the program. Johnson's name has been linked to Tennessee and Georgia as possible transfer schools. Presley, a 6-6 forward from Adelphi, Md., has expressed an interest in returning to the team.
Virginia coach Jeff Jones, contacted Wednesday afternoon at his office, refused comment on the court's action and the players.
Staff writer Jack Bogaczyk contributed to this report.
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB