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TAMPA - The USF future of three freshmen football players is in jeopardy after the University Police Department asked the state attorney's office to file theft charges after $3,615 in property was taken from a former teammate's dormitory room.
Police are seeking felony grand theft charges against Brouce Mompremier, a linebacker from Miami, and Josh Julmiste, a defensive end from Miramar, while a misdemeanor petit theft charge is being sought against linebacker C.J. Hunnicutt of Bradenton, University Police Sgt. Mike Klingebiel said.
"They have violated team rules. Some things were done that we are aware of that they messed up on," coach Jim Leavitt said. "We're trying to decide right now whether they'll even be with us. Right now, they're not."
Leavitt confirmed the players have not participated with the team since they were suspended from the university after the allegations were brought Aug. 30.
The state attorney's office has not determined whether to formally press charges. The office is closed until Friday because of pre-emptive actions taken in anticipation of Hurricane Ivan. Spokeswoman Pam Bondi said Tuesday that the office's computer systems are down, so even records cannot be checked until Friday.
A police report filed Aug. 30 accuses the three players of taking a television, VCR, PlayStation 2, computer, DVDs, videos and miscellaneous items from the victim's room. It states that some of the missing items were returned.
Police would not identify the victim, other than to say he was a former teammate who has since left the team. The victim had left his room unoccupied for some time. He could only establish the time the items were taken as being between Aug. 12 and Aug. 30.
Hunnicutt declined to comment when reached at his Bradenton home. Mompremier's mother, Ana, was not aware of any problems involving her son. Julmiste's father, Jean, said he knew of the incident but did not know if his son would be allowed to return to the team. His brother, Pat, started at quarterback Saturday. Even if no charges are filed and the students are cleared by the university's Student Affairs system, the damage might already have been done. The three players have missed more than two weeks of classes, and unless they can make up for lost ground academically, they'll likely have to withdraw from school and re-enroll in January. They would have to pass a full load of classes in the spring and summer to keep their eligibility for next fall.
Leavitt declined to discuss the specifics of the case, other than to say that while no formal charges have been filed, there would be repercussions from him.
"Our program is a program of discipline," he said, "and there is no gray area with me."
If charges are filed, it would be the first arrest for Mompremier and Hunnicutt, but not so for Julmiste.
In March 2003, he was arrested in Miramar and charged with felony grand theft, accused of stealing $400 from the nightstand of a neighbor. Disposition on the case was withheld, but the arrest report says Julmiste admitted to a police officer that he stole the money.
Times news researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.