Goldmember Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 linky Baseball Players Face Felony Charges Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY -- What was intended as a prank in the Utah-Brigham Young rivalry has a group of Ute baseball players facing punishment much more severe than either school could dish out. Painting red U's on the Y on the mountainside overlooking the BYU campus in Provo got the players charged with a felony. Defense attorneys are trying to get it reduced, but so far it's standing and a court hearing is scheduled for June 21. "I'll be the first to admit we should be punished. There should have been something done," pitcher Ryan Breska said Thursday. "But a second-degree felony charge seems a little much." Breska, a reliever who graduated last month, and seven others are charged with second-degree felony mischief, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Breska was arrested May 10 when he went to pick up pictures taken as the Y was painted April 30, the night before the Utes wrapped up a three-game series at BYU. "We did it in the hopes that it would be there for our next game on Saturday, just to add some fire to the rivalry -- not that it needs much," Breska said. The Utes saw the effort had failed when the "Y" was a crisp white again by game time the next afternoon. BYU also won 14-9, completing a three-game sweep. Breska thought that was the end of the prank, until he went to pick up his pictures at a local grocery store. A photo clerk who saw the pictures called police, who had no trouble deducing Utah baseball players were involved because the film included shots from a team trip to New Orleans in February. Police were waiting for Breska when he went to pick up the photos and was taken to the Utah County Jail, where he spent the night on the felony charge. Breska was released the next day and police called Utah coach Tim Esmay to identify the other players, who were suspended for a game and later charged. Ryan Florence, Tyler Kmetko, Tyson Olson, Jacob Waldram and Eric Schaler, Jay Brossman and Jason Price are also charged. Schaler, a freshman pitcher, quit the team before the end of the season. Jeff Buhman, a deputy Utah County attorney who is prosecuting the case, said the charge is a felony because the damage estimate was more than $1,000, the cutoff between a misdemeanor and felony. Pranks between the state's biggest rivals are common. Prosecuting them is not, Buhman said. "Most of the time people don't get caught from either university. These guys got caught," Buhman said. The giant Y is on a mountainside east of campus and is not accessible by road. Because painters had to climb the hill and use several coats of white to cover the red, the cost of repairing the damage was estimated between $2,000 and $5,000. BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said similar pranks in the longtime rivalry have been less frequent the past few years. "I think people have realized the damage that's done and the financial ramifications to the damage," Jenkins said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redandwhite Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 These kids dont deserve jail time, just a small fine, and some community service, sheesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 These kids dont deserve jail time, just a small fine, and some community service, sheesh. Small fine? Make them pay the full $2000 to $5000 cost. Why should the tax payers have to foot the bill? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redandwhite Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Small fine? Make them pay the full $2000 to $5000 cost. Why should the tax payers have to foot the bill? Its debatable but imagine you were presented with possibly spending 15 years in jail over a little prank. These kids are scared for their lives and I think that fear on top of a small fine ($2000) along with many hours of community service is a good and fair punishment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Its debatable but imagine you were presented with possibly spending 15 years in jail over a little prank. These kids are scared for their lives and I think that fear on top of a small fine ($2000) along with many hours of community service is a good and fair punishment. I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Small fine? Make them pay the full $2000 to $5000 cost. Why should the tax payers have to foot the bill? I am with you on that. But there is no need for jailtime. May them pay resitution and a fine, and then be done with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 Some of these guys have to be Cubs draft picks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 Its debatable but imagine you were presented with possibly spending 15 years in jail over a little prank. These kids are scared for their lives and I think that fear on top of a small fine ($2000) along with many hours of community service is a good and fair punishment. sorry, when you said small fine I was thinking pocket money small fine say up to $100 dollars. As long as they pay restitution brings it to even, PLUS some punishment, I dislike calling it community service, since when is helping your community a bad thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerbaho-WG Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 This is BYU so of course they're going to s*** a brick over it. They really need to pull the Sequoia tree out of their ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redandwhite Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 sorry, when you said small fine I was thinking pocket money small fine say up to $100 dollars. As long as they pay restitution brings it to even, PLUS some punishment, I dislike calling it community service, since when is helping your community a bad thing? It's fine, and I think the official term is called "community service," atleast thats what I had to go through when I got caught Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasox24 Posted June 13, 2004 Share Posted June 13, 2004 Its debatable but imagine you were presented with possibly spending 15 years in jail over a little prank. These kids are scared for their lives and I think that fear on top of a small fine ($2000) along with many hours of community service is a good and fair punishment. Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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