Nine members of the Lincoln University basketball team who were arrested last month over a weekend altercation are now facing felony charges.
According to Daily Local News, eight men and one woman appeared before the Magisterial District Judge Massey of Oxford earlier this week, who scheduled the hearing for next month.
The nine athletes have been accused of retaliating against a student Marcus McNeil on the night of December 16, who they alleged stole the wallets of two athletes from their dorm rooms over the Christmas holiday break.
According to the complaint filed by a university police officer, the athletes broke into the room of McNeil, physically assaulted him and took away his belongings. McNeil reported that the athletes stole his PlayStation video game system, Apple iPhone, a smart television, and several pairs of sneakers.
The students who are facing charges are Gevon Allen Arrington, Zahrion Blue, Terrence Allen Gibbons, Tamir Green, Martin Deshawn Kinsey, Bernard Tyrone Lightsey Jr., Myles Parnell Markland, Maurice Glenn Waters, and Deja Reynolds.
Taking on damage control, last month, the university posted bond for all the athletes in order to allow them to play in a pre-scheduled game.
“In response to alleged thefts among students, an altercation occurred. The group included athletes and a non-athlete. The students chose to press charges against each other. The university will continue to work its due process procedures as well as work with local authorities,” the university had said in a statement.
