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Four players face charges of criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and harassment - rising junior cornerback Justin King, redshirt sophomore linebacker Jerome Hayes, rising junior cornerback Lydell Sargeant and rising junior linebacker Tyrell Sales.
The players turned themselves in at the Penn State University Police office at Eisenhower parking deck shortly before 10:30 this morning to be arraigned via video by Centre County District Justice Carmine Prestia. All six players arrived together in two cars. The group walked together from the parking deck and took one elevator to the office.
Flanked by attorneys Ron McGlaughlin and Karen Muir, the players exited the elevator, many of them with their heads down, and did not acknowledge reporters on their way into the arraignment.
Baker and Scirrotto were released today on $50,000 unsecured bail. King, Hayes, Sargeant and Sales were released on $10,000 unsecured bail.
McGlaughlin, who is representing Hayes and King, refused to comment. Baker did not have an attorney during his arraignment but has been talking to several attorneys.
Sales will be represented by Stacey Parks Miller. She said she wasn't sure what she would be doing with regards to next week's preliminary hearing, because she had not yet seen much evidence.
"What's in the documents is only accusations," Parks Miller said. "People should reserve judgement until they see what the evidence really shows."
Scirrotto will be represented by Edward Blanarik, who was not available for comment. Muir, who is representing Sargeant, said she is considering whether or not to waive the preliminary hearing.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. next Friday in courtroom 2 at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.
Centre County Assistant District Attorney Steve Sloane said Thursday that he plans to call at least 40 witnesses during the hearing.
Two Penn State students have also been charged with summary offenses for their involvement in the earlier street confrontation. Bernd H. Imle is charged with harassment and Thomas D. Skalamera is charged with criminal mischief. Neither Imle nor Skalamera are residents of the apartment where the incident occurred.
Authorities called a press conference this morning to announce the charges. State College Police Chief Tom King called the four-week investigation "rather quick," but said the large number of individuals involved prolonged the process. Hayes is cited in a police press release as saying that at least 15 to 20 football players gathered in a "mob" outside the apartment April 1.
Tom King said he had contacted someone within the athletic department yesterday to discuss the charges, but declined to say whom.
An athletic department spokesperson said the department may release a statement this afternoon.
"I was relieved that it was handled professionally," said apartment resident Kevin Sanders (sophomore-political science). "Because if [there were players] there, and they didn't do anything, I wouldn't want them to be falsely charged … It's good that the system worked."
Check back for more updates.
PHOTO: Abby Drey
Chief of Police Thomas R. King and Centre County District Attorney Michael Maderia discuss the charges and arraignments of six Penn State Football players on Friday morning during a press conference at the State College Municipal Building.
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