Seven indicted in frat house case; six WKU players suspended
Published 10:30 am Thursday, June 1, 2017
A Warren County grand jury indicted seven men on charges ranging from felony wanton endangerment to criminal trespass.
The seven defendants include six current and one former Western Kentucky University football players. They are accused of unlawfully entering the premises of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity March 5, and four of the defendants are alleged in the indictment to have assaulted an individual, according to a news release from the Kentucky attorney general’s office, which is handling the prosecution.
While not named in the news release, earlier reporting by the Daily News identified the victim as Jerald Armfield, a Pike alumnus.
Those indicted Wednesday include Quinton A. Baker, 19; Xavier D. Lane, 20; Tyler Obee, 18; and Cecil C. Stallings, 20, who were each charged with first-degree complicity to wanton endangerment, fourth-degree complicity to assault and third-degree criminal trespass.
Jachour H. Pearson, 19, and Christopher R. Johnson, 21, were each charged with third-degree criminal trespass.
Andrew O’Bryan, 19, was charged with menacing and third-degree criminal trespass. O’Bryan has transferred from WKU to Eastern Kentucky University.
The six current WKU players – Baker, Johnson, Lane, Obee, Pearson and Stallings – have been “suspended indefinitely from all team-related activities pending further developments,” according to a statement released Thursday morning by Kyle Neaves, WKU’s associate athletic director for communications.
Attorney General Andy Beshear’s Special Prosecutions Unit is handling the case. The division is responsible for assisting local prosecutors in complex or sensitive cases, as well as handling cases in which local prosecutors recuse themselves. Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Cohron recused himself from the case in April and later told the Daily News that he did so because of “a conflict due to a connection with someone involved in the case.”
The Bowling Green Police Department investigated the case. A bond amount has not yet been set, nor an arraignment date scheduled.
First-degree wanton endangerment is a Class D felony carrying a penalty of one to five years in prison and a fine of $1,000 to $10,000.
Fourth-degree assault, fourth degree, is a Class A misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $500.
Menacing is a Class B misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $250.
Third-degree criminal trespass is a violation carrying a penalty of a fine of up $250.
Baker is a 5-foot-9, 185-pound sophomore running back from Blazer High School in Ashland. He rushed 99 times in 2016 for 542 yards – 5.5 yards per carry – with four rushing touchdowns and a longest rush of 39 yards.
Johnson is a 6-1, 285-pound senior defensive tackle from Gulfport, Miss., who came to WKU from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He was a 2016 All-Conference USA Honorable Mention performer, finishing the year with 43 tackles – 12.5 for loss – with four sacks.
Lane is a 6-4, 200-pound redshirt freshman wide receiver hailing from Carver HS in Montgomery, Ala. He redshirted in 2016.
Obee is a 5-11, 200-pound redshirt freshman linebacker from Homewood-Flossmoor HS in Flossmoor, Ill. He redshirted in 2016.
Pearson is a 5-9, 175-pound redshirt freshman wide receiver who came to WKU from Flanagan HS in Pembroke Pines, Fla. He redshirted in 2016.
Stallings is a 6-3, 260-pound redshirt freshman defensive lineman from Tucker HS in Tucker, Ga. He redshirted in 2016.
O’Bryan is a 6-2, 230-pound redshirt freshman from Blazer HS in Ashland. He redshirted in 2016 and then left the Hilltopper team during 2017 spring practice before announcing his intention to transfer to EKU.