Ex-UD basketball players arraigned on burglary charges

UPDATE @6:05 p.m:

The former University of Dayton men’s basketball players arrested for burglarizing campus dorm rooms last December were given $25,000 cash surety bonds during their arraignment Thursday afternoon.

Dayton Municipal Court Judge Daniel Gehres set April 6 as the date for a preliminary hearing for Jalen Robinson, 21, and Devon Scott, 20. Robinson is accused of three counts of burglary while Scott is accused of seven counts of burglary. All are second-degree felonies.

Not guilty pleas for both were entered by the court. Gehres told both men that if they make bail, they must return for all court dates.

The suspects, both of whom played at Northland High School in Columbus, were booked into the Montgomery County Jail early Friday after returning to Ohio when they learned of active warrants for their arrest. Robinson is enrolled at the University of South Carolina Aiken. Scott is not enrolled in school, but will be staying with his mother in Columbus.

Court documents show Scott allegedly trespassed in seven places, including six in UD’s Merrycrest Hall and in one other structure on Caldwell Street.

According to the prosecutor’s office, video surveillance captured Robinson and Scott walking up to several dorm doors and trying the handles to see if they were unlocked, according to court filings. Documents reported residents saw both trespassing into their rooms, and many of those residents reported missing property.

Security footage showed both Robinson and Scott with items in their hands in the hallway, and video the following day captured them returning stolen money to one of the victims, according to the documents.

On Dec. 15, 2014, Robinson and Scott were dismissed from the basketball team. They later withdrew from school.

UPDATE @11:44 a.m. March 26:

Former University of Dayton basketball player Devon Scott has been booked into jail.

Scott faces seven felony charges of burglary. He was booked into jail at 10:28 a.m. today, according to the jail website.

Scott and Robinson are expected to be arraigned today.

UPDATE @ 5:50 a.m. March 26:

Jalen Robinson was booked into the Montgomery County Jail this morning.

He is being held on three felony burglary charges.

He is set to appear in court at 1:45 p.m. today, according to jail records.

UPDATE @ 11 p.m. March 25:

One of the attorneys for former University of Dayton basketball players Jalen Robinson and Devon Scott said he is confused as to why officials with the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office said they did not know the whereabouts of the two men, now formally charged on several counts of felony burglary.

Scott’s attorney, Matt Jewson, said both men left the area after withdrawing from UD, and Heck’s office has known their whereabouts, so there was no need for nationwide arrest warrants.

“It’s been clear for some time who has been representing (Scott),” Jewson said. “I believe that the whereabouts of both defendants was well known to the state throughout the process. That’s why I was a little confused as to why they would indicate whereabouts unknown.

“We are in communication with the prosecutor’s office, with representatives from the University of Dayton police and we’re fully cooperating in the process with carrying forth as soon as we can.”

Jewson and Steven Pierson, the attorney for Robinson, said both men will return to Dayton soon to answer to the charges.

Greg Flannagan, spokesman for Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr., said, “If their attorneys know the whereabouts of these defendants, then they should surrender them to the Montgomery County Jail like any other defendant.

“These defendants will not be treated any differently than other defendants. Furthermore, anyone having information on the whereabouts of these defendants should contact the University of Dayton Police Department.”

UPDATE @ 4:17 p.m. March 25:

Jalen Robinson is enrolled at the University of South Carolina Aiken, according to the school’s sports information director, and Devon Scott is in Georgia, his attorney said. Neither has been taken into custody.

“The SOFAST Task Force is working in conjunction with the Dayton police department to locate them and bring them in,” said Jeremy Rose, supervisory deputy U.S. Marshal.

“As soon as the warrants were issued, because Dayton is a partner in the task force, copies were sent to us to locate the players. However, they are not typical fugitives who went on the run after they became aware that they are wanted.

“I believe in the near future they will turn themselves in.”

UPDATE @ Noon, March 25:

Former University of Dayton basketball players Jalen T. Robinson and Devin Henry Scott have been formally charged in a series of burglaries committed on campus, Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr.’s office announced.

• Both are being sought on nationwide arrest warrants
• Robinson, 21, is charged with 3 counts of burglary
• Scott, 20, is charged with 7 counts of burglary
• All of the charges are felonies
• Both were dismissed from the Flyers on Dec. 15, 2014

According to the prosecutor’s office, dormitory rooms at the UD were broken into during the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, and several items were stolen. According to court documents, video surveillance captured Robinson and Scott walking up to several dorm doors and trying the handles to see if they were unlocked. Residents reported seeing Robinson trespassing into their rooms, and many of those residents reported missing property, according to the court documents.

Security footage showed Robinson with items in his hands as he walked in the hallway, and video the following day captured him returning stolen money to one of the victims, according to the documents.

The defendants were positively identified (by one or more witnesses), according to Heck’s release on Tuesday.

The next day, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, Robinson and Scott, who were starters for the UD Flyers, were dismissed from the basketball team.

Scott and Robinson are no longer students at the university, according to a statement from UD.

This is an ongoing investigation. There is extensive forensic analysis that needs to be completed involving numerous victims, and it is anticipated that additional charges may be forthcoming.

This case will be presented to a county grand jury, Heck’s office said.

Robinson and Scott are both from Northland High School in Columbus.

They were key contributors during UD’s 2014 NCAA tournament run to the Elite Eight. After their dismissal, the short-handed Flyers made the 2015 NCAA tournament, winning a First Four game at UD Arena before defeating Providence in Columbus. UD lost a third-round game against Oklahoma on Sunday.

“The University of Dayton’s participation in the NCAA had no part whatsoever in this,” prosecutor’s spokesman Greg Flannagan said.

When Scott and Robinson were dismissed, UD coach Archie Miller said: “This is a decision really based on behavior and acceptable behavior. Both guys just didn’t live up to expectations, not only in what we feel about our players, but in general in how you’re supposed to do things.”

The alleged burglaries involving Scott occurred after he avoided jail time last August, when he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct against the mother of his son. He didn’t appear in Dayton Municipal Court with his attorney. Judge Deirdre Logan sentenced Scott to 40 hours of community service to be completed by Nov. 30, suspended a 30-day sentence, fined him $250 (with half of that suspended), and ordered him to pay court costs.

Scott may have violated his probation with the new charges. He had been suspended from UD’s team and reinstated.

As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped an assault charge and amended the domestic violence charge to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. According to court documents, UD police brought charges accusing Scott of “striking” and “dragging” Keonna Austin on April 1, 2014.

Michael Wright, Scott’s attorney in the domestic violence case, said his client completed domestic violence education at the Artemis House and went through counseling. In August, Wright told Logan, “There should not be any future incidents, your Honor.”