Humphrey, Peterson, and Wade Charged with Residential Burglary

(Left to right: Maudrecus Humphrey, Marquel Wade, and Andrew Peterson)

From Chris Bahn at ArkansasSports360.com:

“Arkansas football players Andrew Peterson and Maudrecus Humphrey have been arrested and charged by University of Arkansas Police Department with nine counts of residential burlgary. Marquel Wade was arrested and charged with one count of residential burglary.

Items allegedly stolen include laptops, cash, DVDs and textbooks, valuing more than $4,800. Wade, Peterson and Humphrey have been suspended indefinitely by Coach John L. Smith.

“Marquel Wade, Maudrecus Humphrey and Andrew Peterson have been suspended indefinitely,” Smith said through a spokesman. “We have high standards for our student-athletes and I expect them to conduct themselves appropriately. Poor conduct and misbehavior will not be tolerated and is not what we expect from the University of Arkansas football program.”

According to the police report surveillance cameras caught the trio entering and leaving unlocked dorm rooms.

Police began investigating a theft in the Northwest Quad dorms on May 1 and a total of 10 reports of stolen property were taken over the next week. “A review of video from the locations showed three suspets walking through hallways, checking doors and entering rooms.”

[Bahn has put a copy of the police report on ArkansasSports360.com at the link provided above.  It’s at the bottom and is the best summary that can be had at this point. ]

A quick consult with my blog’s sponsor, Little Rock Attorney Christopher D. Anderson,  about the legal side of the charges and process adds some particulars to what Humphrey, Peterson, and Wade may face.  He does not represent anyone involved.  Mostly he cautions that prosecuting attorneys will review a case file and make their own determination of whether the facts warrant the charges listed in the arrest report or not and that it is difficult to predict how a prosecuting attorney will view the circumstances.  As for the charges themselves, the Arkansas Residential Burglary statute states:

5-39-201.  Residential burglary — Commercial burglary.

  (a)  (1) A person commits residential burglary if he or she enters or remains unlawfully in a residential occupiable structure of another person with the purpose of committing in the residential occupiable structure any offense punishable by imprisonment.

   (2) Residential burglary is a Class B felony.

A Class B felony is punishable by 5 to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and a fine up to $10,000. Probation is available. 

Please check for updates. This post is being published as it is written. — Sharp