Breaking: Jordan Jefferson and Josh Johns Charged With 2nd Degree Felony, At Jail Now
OKTC has learned that LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and linebacker Josh Johns have both been charged with second degree battery, a felony. Reached by phone, attorney Nathan Fisher told OKTC that he was presently with both players at the Baton Rouge jail turning them in to authorities. The warrants for both players come just eight days before LSU plays Oregon in one of the most highly anticipated openers in recent college football history. Both players will be booked and processed at the Baton Rouge jail.
Attorney Nathan Fisher tells OKTC he hopes that both players can be released without bail. "I would certainly hope so," he says. "If not, we hope it's reasonable," he said.
The felony charges come after yesterday's revelation on OKTC that the Marine who was allegedly kicked, Andrew Lowery, has a criminal history as well as a restraining order filed against him.
Second degree battery is defined in the state of Louisiana as:
"§34.1. Second degree battery
Second degree battery is a battery committed without the consent of the victim when the offender intentionally inflicts serious bodily injury.
For purposes of this article, serious bodily injury means bodily injury which involves unconsciousness, extreme physical pain or protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, or a substantial risk of death.
Whoever commits the crime of second degree battery shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both."
Within thirty minutes of the felony charges LSU issues an official statement suspending Jordan Jefferson and Josh Johns indefinitely.
On a broader level, what does LSU's student handbook say about players accused of felonies? Are they allowed to remain students in good-standing irrespective of their sports eligibility? Or does a felony charge trigger some sort of suspension proceeding at the university as well? That's important because it could mean Jefferson and Johns are gone for the year.
A reader tip guides us to the LSU student handbook.
In particular part:
8.2. Non-Academic Misconduct
A. On or off-campus behavior - To protect the University's educational purposes and the University community, a Student may be formally charged with a violation of this Code and be subject to the sanctions herein for acts or omissions that occur on or off-campus when, as a result of conduct, the Student is:
1. Convicted of a felony in a state or federal court;
2. Formally charged by civil authorities with the commission of a crime of such nature that the student's continued presence at the University potentially threatens the property, health, safety, or well being of members of the University community;
3. Believed by the Dean or designee to have committed a crime of such nature that his or her continued presence at the University potentially threatens the property, health, safety, or well being of the University community, but civil authorities have not brought charges or imposed penalties;
4. The subject of an agency arrest, including being charged with a misdemeanor offense;
5. Believed by the Dean or designee to have committed any act of violence that, by its very nature, indicates the individual might present a threat to the security and safety of the University community;
6. Believed by the Dean or designee to have committed any acts of violence or harassment, perpetrated by a student upon one or more other members of the University community. Physical abuse (including threats of) stalking, sexual assault, dangerous conduct, and hazing are all considered to be acts of violence;
7. Found to have committed acts which by their very nature are detrimental to the educational mission of the University;
This is a huge mess for all considered that is only going to get messier.
In the meantime, we have our answer on whether Jordan Jefferson can be the 2011 version of Jason Campbell at Auburn -- no.
We'll be on top of it all at OKTC.