Professor

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2464554

Bengals pick Nicholson, Rouse charged in alleged theft
By Joe Schad
Special to ESPN.com

Two former Florida State football players have been charged with stealing electronic equipment worth approximately $1,700 from the home of a current player, Tallahassee Police told ESPN on Wednesday.

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker A.J. Nicholson and former wide receiver Fred Rouse, who was dismissed by coach Bobby Bowden at the end of last season for detrimental conduct, are charged with burglarizing the Tallahassee home of current Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker on May 20 or 21.

Rouse confessed his involvement to authorities on May 28, according to police. Rouse was arrested and charged with three felonies: burglary of a dwelling, grand theft and unrelated possessions of a controlled substance without a prescription, which was ecstasy. Rouse has been released on bond.

A warrant is out for the arrest of Nicholson, who faces felony charges of burglary of a dwelling and grand theft and criminal mischief, which is a misdemeanor.

"Obviously, Lorenzo's not really happy that his former teammates, Rouse and Nicholson, did this," Tallahassee Police Public Information Officer John Newland said. "This incident occurred May 20 and A.J. was drafted in April. You knew you were leaving. Why would you put yourself through this? It's just really unfortunate."

A police source said that among the items investigators found at Booker's home was a wide receivers glove with "1," Rouse's former jersey number, stitched into the inside of it. The glove had been left under a color television that had been thrown onto the floor.

Entrance to the home, police said, was made by breaking a rear window. In gaining entry, the suspects appeared to cut themselves as they left blood there and on one of Bookers' roommate's sheets. Police later found drops of blood at the exterior of the home of Nicholson's girlfriend.

In a sworn, taped interview on May 28, Rouse said Nicholson entered the home and carried out two portable stereos, a DVD player and a pair of headphones. Rouse also said Nicholson had sustained a substantial cut on a finger.

Nicholson, who was accused of a sexual assault in Miami and sent home from the Orange Bowl, was selected by the Bengals in the fifth round. Nicholson, who has pleaded no contest to a DUI arrest and had another incident with Tallahassee police that led to dropped charges of resisting arrest, has not been charged in the sexual assault case.

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Professor

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...012/1066/rss07

Nicholson released from jail
BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

A.J. Nicholson posted bond and was released from jail in Tallahassee, Fla., over the weekend.

The Bengals rookie linebacker was arrested when he surrendered to police there Saturday and charged with burglary, grand theft and vandalism.

The charges stem from an alleged burglary of about $1,700 worth of electronic equipment from the Tallahassee, Fla., home of Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker and his two roommates last month.

Nicholson’s case was still in the intake division without a court date, a spokeswoman in the Leon County prosecutor’s office said this afternoon.

Tallahassee police said Nicholson, 22, and former FSU wide receiver Fred Rouse broke into Booker's home May 20 or May 21. Booker found his bedroom window broken after returning home May 21, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Rouse confessed to police during a sworn, taped interview, the affidavit states.

"Rouse said he heard glass break and a short time later A.J. Nicholson returned carrying two portable stereos, a DVD player, and a pair of headphones," the affidavit states. "Rouse also saw that Nicholson had a substantial cut on his middle finger, possibly the right middle finger."

Booker told police that Nicholson had lived in the house at one time but was evicted several months ago for not paying rent.

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