|
Summarized by Kent Larsen
LDS Former Maryland Football Player Charged in Bicycle Incident
Washington Post pD08 13Jan00 D2
By Josh Barr: Washington Post Staff Writer
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND -- Former University of Maryland football player
Ed Simms, who is a member of the LDS Church, was arrested following a
November 15th incident along with four current Maryland football
players. The five allegedly kicked in a door and attacked another student
while trying to a recover a bicycle allegedly stolen from Simms.
The five men allegedly entered a dormitory apartment through a closed,
unlocked door looking for the bicycle. Simms then confronted apartment
resident Christopher Blunck, who he then struck, according to the
allegations. After the bicycle was located, one of Simms' accomplices
rode it to Simms' residence.
The four current Maryland players have all been suspended from the team
pending the outcome of the case. All have been charged in the incident,
Simms with assault, burglary, theft and malicious destruction of
property and faces up to 13 years in prison and fines of $3,500. Blunck
reportedly didn't suffer serious injury.
The 18-year-old Simms is from Woodbridge, Virginia is trying to get his
trial date, set for March 15th, moved up so that he can begin an LDS
mission. Simms also said in a motion asking for the court date to be
moved up that he plans to play football at BYU after returning from his
mission. His mother told the Washington Post that she thinks the
incident is not how her son usually acts, "I don't want to sound like he
is a goody-two-shoes, but he is," said Valerie Jones. "A minute of anger
is causing him a lot of trouble. It's not like him."
|
