SYRACUSE - Suspended Syracuse University basketball player Scoop Jardine knew that a stolen student identification card was being used to order more than $100 worth of food, according to court documents.
Jardine didn't eat any of the food but helped carry it in when it was delivered to his apartment on Jan. 13, then tried to cover up his involvement, according to the documents, which are based on a statement from Jardine's cousin, Robert Washington, 40, of Philadelphia, who was charged in the case.
Washington was arraigned Tuesday in Syracuse City Court on felony charges of second-degree forgery and fourth-degree grand larceny and a misdemeanor count of third-degree identity theft. He was held overnight in the and released Wednesday to the probation department's pretrial release program.
Washington admitted in a written statement that he signed the receipt for the purchase of the food. He also said Jardine was there when using the stolen card was discussed. Washington said a woman identified in court papers as a friend of Jardine said she had found the identification card at a local restaurant.
Jardine, a freshman from Philadelphia, was suspended indefinitely from the team before Sunday's home game against Providence. Coach Jim Boeheim announced the suspension after the game but declined to elaborate.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said he had no plans to prosecute Jardine after senior members of his staff reviewed the case and decided Jardine's involvement was minimal enough to allow the university to handle the matter internally.
Jardine remains enrolled as a student, said Kevin Quinn, the university's vice president of public affairs. While the university tries to handle its disciplinary cases within 30 days, there is no set timeframe and each case is different, Quinn said.
Quinn declined further comment, citing federal privacy laws.
Jardine, who could not be reached for comment, did not practice Monday or Tuesday and did not accompany the team for its game at DePaul on Wednesday night.
Washington's lawyer, James McGraw, said Wednesday that his client maintains Jardine was not involved in any criminal wrongdoing.
“There is no indication from my conversations with my client that Scoop had anything to do with acquiring the card,” McGraw said. “The first time it was used, Scoop was in West Virginia. He was never involved.”
Syracuse played an afternoon game at West Virginia on Jan. 13.
AP-ES-01-30-08 1512EST
Washington was arraigned Tuesday in Syracuse City Court on felony charges of second-degree forgery and fourth-degree grand larceny and a misdemeanor count of third-degree identity theft. He was held overnight in the and released Wednesday to the probation department's pretrial release program.
Washington admitted in a written statement that he signed the receipt for the purchase of the food. He also said Jardine was there when using the stolen card was discussed. Washington said a woman identified in court papers as a friend of Jardine said she had found the identification card at a local restaurant.
Jardine, a freshman from Philadelphia, was suspended indefinitely from the team before Sunday's home game against Providence. Coach Jim Boeheim announced the suspension after the game but declined to elaborate.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said he had no plans to prosecute Jardine after senior members of his staff reviewed the case and decided Jardine's involvement was minimal enough to allow the university to handle the matter internally.
Jardine remains enrolled as a student, said Kevin Quinn, the university's vice president of public affairs. While the university tries to handle its disciplinary cases within 30 days, there is no set timeframe and each case is different, Quinn said.
Quinn declined further comment, citing federal privacy laws.
Jardine, who could not be reached for comment, did not practice Monday or Tuesday and did not accompany the team for its game at DePaul on Wednesday night.
Washington's lawyer, James McGraw, said Wednesday that his client maintains Jardine was not involved in any criminal wrongdoing.
“There is no indication from my conversations with my client that Scoop had anything to do with acquiring the card,” McGraw said. “The first time it was used, Scoop was in West Virginia. He was never involved.”
Syracuse played an afternoon game at West Virginia on Jan. 13.
AP-ES-01-30-08 1512EST