Cribbs to QB Kent -

[Captain Kangaroo]

:blink:

Cribbs takes plea bargain Can't State football star guilty possessing pot

Allen Moff

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By David Carducci

Record-Courier staff writer

Can't State University football quarterback Joshua Cribbs and the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office reached a plea agreement to change a fifth-degree felony charge against Cribbs from trafficking in marijuana to possession of marijuana, which is still a fifth-degree felony.

The amended charge, which Cribbs pleaded guilty to Tuesday morning in front of Judge Joseph P. Kainrad Portage County Common Pleas, will allow Cribbs to return to the football field for all but one game of his senior season.

“I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I’m being punished because of them,” Cribbs said. “I’m eager and excited to get back to the game of football and hopefully put this all behind me and learn from my mistake.”

Cribbs was arrested Jan. 17 after police discovered eight bags containing a total of nine grams of marijuana on a closet shelf during a domestic disturbance call to his home.

The small amount of marijuana would have been considered a minor misdemeanor, the equivalent of a speeding ticket, had it been packaged in one bag. But because it was found in multiple bags, implying an intent to sell, police charged Cribbs with a fifth-degree felony for trafficking.

“I didn’t traffic at all,” Cribbs said. “It was nothing like that. I had marijuana. That’s what I’m guilty of. I was going to smoke it, but I didn’t.”

“It was a one-time thing. It was stupid.”

Cribbs said he was given the marijuana on New Year’s Day. When he decided not to smoke it, he said he put the bags on the closet shelf and forgot about them until they were found by police.

A pre-trial hearing had been scheduled for next week in Portage County Common Pleas Court in Ravenna.

“We had some discussions (with Cribbs’ attorney, Lawrence Smith of Akron) over the past several weeks, and we made it clear we were going to pursue the matter as a felony,” said Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci.

“From his statement (to Can't Police), I believe it was clear that (Cribbs’) intention was to sell. However, since he had not actually sold, we took that into consideration,” he said.

Amending the charge from trafficking to possession “made no difference from a legal standpoint,” Vigluicci said. “Both statutes were felonies of the fifth degree.”

A trafficking conviction, however, would have made it difficult for Cribbs to return to Can't State under university rules.

The plea to a possession charge allowed Can't State Athletic Director Laing Kennedy to reinstate Cribbs to the football team Tuesday afternoon.

“I honestly believe that Josh’s mistake was a one-time mistake,” Kennedy said. “He is not a user. We randomly test our student-athletes. Josh has been tested, and it’s never been a problem. Josh was drug tested prior to the incident and he has been tested twice since. On every occasion he has tested negative.”

“Once Josh was arrested and charged Jan. 17, he was immediately suspended from all football activity,” Kennedy said. “The suspension has included all of spring practice, including the spring game, team meetings, and strength and conditioning workouts, and it’s been going on for six months. Consistent with our athletic disciplinary policy, Josh will miss playing time this fall.”

Cribbs will not play in Can't State’s Sept. 4 opener at the University of Iowa. Sophomore Antwan Smith and freshman Tom Sitko are the early candidates to start in his place.

“Obviously this has been a very difficult time for Josh, his wife Maria, and his entire family,” said Can't State head football coach Doug Martin. “I have a very close relationship with Josh and Maria, so we are very happy to see this come to a close for them. We look forward to their being able to put this behind them. Our football team looks forward to putting this behind them and to Josh returning to our program.”

Assuming Cribbs completes his sentence and has no other offenses, he will be eligible to have the felony expunged from his record in three years.

“We have made no agreement as to his sentencing,” Vigluicci said. “We have made no recommendation. That is up to the judge.”

The sentence, which is expected to be announced some time next week, can range from community sanctions - including probation or local jail time - to a maximum of one year in state prison.

[zff]

What a bunch of Crap!!!!!

If this would have been a Zips player I say Kick His Butt Off the Team!!!!!

I am from the old school if you get charged with a crime your gone!!!!!!

[zipsbandman]

Hopefully he gets his life back in order. As for the Can't State football team, this should change the outlook for them.

[Zipsrifle]

I thought that I read somewhere that the coach said if it was a felony, he was off the team. Now, since it's a 5th degree felony, it's OK? Somehow we all knew in the back of our minds he would be playing again this year. If Frye got busted with Pot, I'm sorry to say, but show him the door. I have no tolerance for this stuff.

[Z-Pouch]

I find it funny that he has been reinstated but hasn't been sentenced yet. If he gets jail time, does he get a work release for Saturdays ? Granted, for some reason it looks like Weed Bags is getting a little more then a slap on the wrist and will end up sentenced with community service but you never know. It looks really bad that Can't State couldnt atleast wait for the final outcome before making a decision. What a disgrace. Even OSU has indefinately suspended and kicked off players when dealing with serious charges.

As for the intern coach, I did see where he said Felony= OUT. But I guess he thought it over after spring practices and decided that a 1-10 season might be worth lowering the bar to an all time low.

I couldn't ask for better material when dealing with their fans.