CEDAR FALLS -- The University of Northern Iowa football team's top two wide receivers were arrested Friday morning for possession of marijuana.
The Cedar Falls Police Department and Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task force served a search warrant at 515 W. 18th St., the home of Johnny Lee Gray, 22, and Victor Romell Williams, 23.
Police say a quantity of marijuana and items used to use and sell marijuana were found.
Gray was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and violation of the Iowa drug tax stamp law, both felonies.
Williams was charged with serious misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
UNI Athletics Director Troy Dannen said in a release that Gray and Williams will not play in today's game at Indiana State in Terre Haute and have been suspended from the team indefinitely.
"It's indefinite (suspension) until we find out more," UNI football coach Mark Farley said after arrival in Terre Haute, Ind., and a team meeting. "This is just too fresh and we don't know enough about it now to really make a decision."
Farley said he found out about the arrests just prior to leaving for Terre Haute.
"My reaction is ….. I don't know," he said. "You feel betrayed. You feel embarrassed by it. You feel disappointed by it. You name it. You got all of them tied into one."
Linebacker De'Veon Harris and safety Darrell Lloyd did not make the trip to Terre Haute with the team. A UNI official told The Courier the two were questioned but not charged. They are expected to be in Terre Haute today and are scheduled to play.
Also arrested was Sarah Marie Woods, 23, of 1123 W. 23rd St. She was also charged with serious misdemeanor possession of marijuana. A university news release also identified her as a UNI student.
Class D felonies, such as the charges Gray faces, are punishable up to five years in prison and fine of at least $750, but no more than $7,500.
Serious misdemeanors, such as the charges filed against Williams and Woods, are punishable with a fine of at least $250, but not to exceed $1,500. In addition the court may also order imprisonment not to exceed one year.
Williams and Woods were released after posting bond. No information on Gray's disposition was immediately available.
Gray, of Deerfield Beach, Fla. is a 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior. He was first team all-Gateway Conference in 2007 and second team all-American punt returner. This season, he has a team-high 29 catches for 380 yards and two touchdowns. He has 141 career receptions for 1,912 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.
He has more than 3,500 all-purpose yards for UNI during his career.
Williams, of Clewiston, Fla. is a 6-4, 227-pound senior. He is second on the team with 28 catches for 362 yards and two touchdowns. Williams, the team's tallest receiver, has 73 career receptions for 987 yards.
Of the team's reaction to the news, Farley said: "We'll find out how they respond…We just need to make sure that we stay focused on what our purpose here is and continue what we've been trying to do all season.
"Bottom line is, the guys who are sitting in that meeting room now did nothing wrong, except play hurt, do the extra lifting, extra running -- do everything we've done to get to this point, and I expect them to continue that. Angry, mad disappointed. You name it -- it's all there. But yet, 80 of them bonded together is a lot stronger than the one that's standing alone. So that's what we gotta hang our hat on, and that's what we will do. We'll take care of the program first, I'll guarantee you that.
"The thing that gets me is, we've been around them for three and four years. They're still Johnny and Vic. They're still, to me, part of our family. At the same time, that's where the betrayal feeling comes. But yet, the anger and disappointment comes from the fact of what they did outside our program."
Farley indicated a decision on the length of suspensions may come soon.
"It won't take long to get the information," he said. "I just want to make sure I get the right information."
Courier Sports Writer Matt Coss contributed to this story.
Contact Jon Ericson at (319) 291-1402 or Jonanthan.Ericson@wcfcourier.com
Posted in Local on Saturday, November 15, 2008 12:00 am
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