Delaware football players plead guilty in steroid theft

September 19, 2006

Three former Delaware football players charged with breaking into another player's apartment and stealing liquid steroids and other items have pleaded guilty just days before their trial was to begin. Two of the three players are from Georgia.

Demetrice Alexander and Danny Jones each pleaded guilty Thursday to possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, two counts of second-degree robbery, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony and second-degree conspiracy, attorney general Carl Danberg said Friday.

A third player, Jeffrey Robinson, pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree robbery and two counts of second-degree conspiracy.

A fourth defendant, Tyrone Heggins, who was a Delaware student but not a team member, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Alexander and Jones.

The defendants had been scheduled to go on trial Sept. 21 in New Castle County Superior Court.

In exchange for the guilty pleas, prosecutors dropped charges of first-degree robbery against all the defendants and first-degree burglary charges against Alexander, Jones and Heggins, as well as other firearms charges.

Sentencing is scheduled for December. Robinson faces from two to 29 years in prison. Alexander, Heggins and Jones face possible sentences of three to 42 years.

Alexander was a sophomore linebacker from Lilburn, Ga., Jones was a sophomore running back from Stratford, N.J., and Robinson was a junior defensive back from Fairburn, Ga.

The men were arrested in March after two suspects armed with shotguns burst into the apartment of teammate Justin Hackett to steal steroids, according to Newark police. Hackett was dismissed from the team.

University sports information director Scott Selheimer declined to comment on the guilty pleas. "The people are no longer affiliated with our program," he said.