Football player accused of assault and damaging property
Photo Courtesy of KSU Athletic Department.
February 27, 2013
A Kent State football player has been accused of misdemeanor assault and knowingly causing property damage.
Senior linebacker C.J. Steward was arrested Feb. 15 after Shane Riley and Morgan Lepore — two of Steward’s coworkers — filed a criminal complaint against him on Feb. 14.
The incidents allegedly took place Feb. 13 at The Province apartment complex at 609 S. Lincoln St. near campus. At the time, Steward, Riley and Lepore were all employees of The Province.
A spokeswoman for The Province said Steward’s employment was terminated Feb. 14 after a complaint from Lepore, but the company could not comment on any other details because the case and investigation is ongoing.
Lepore, senior interior design major, also declined to comment because the case is still pending, but she said she doesn’t plan to remain silent forever.
“I’d be happy to talk to [the Daily Kent Stater] as soon as the case is closed,” Lepore said.
Steward, a senior anthropology major and native of Jacksonville, Fla., did not return multiple phone calls.
Lepore’s complaints to the Kent Police Department accuse Steward of grabbing her by the arm, shoving her into a closet door and damaging her television.
A spokesman for the athletic department said Steward has been suspended indefinitely from “all-football and athletic department-related activities.”
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The Province’s spokeswoman confirmed that Lepore is still employed by The Province, and she is listed on the property’s website as a resident services manager. Steward was still on the website Tuesday as a senior community assistant — despite being terminated nearly two weeks earlier.
Steward’s pretrial is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on March 13 in Portage County Municipal Court. He will be arraigned at 8:15 a.m. March 14.
The assault charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, while the property damage charge is a second-degree misdemeanor.
Steward did not see any action for the Flashes during the 2012 season, and he sat out the 2011 season because of an injury. His player profile on the athletic department’s website says he has previously worked as a YMCA counselor and a teacher at a Vacation Bible School.
Contact Grant Engle at [email protected].
