The Missoula County Jail is listing two starters on the University of Montana football team who are being held on felony burglary charges, while a third has already posted bond. All three have been suspended from the team, according to UM Athletic Director Kent Haslam.

Kendrick Van Ackeren and John Schmaing, both seniors on the team, are being held on $50,000 bond. It is also reported that injured running back Joey Counts and two other individuals were arrested in the burglary incident, however, Counts posted bail and was released from jail. All three were booked into the jail at 5:20 Sunday morning after returning from the trip to Portland State, where they lost 16-35.

The team arrived back in Missoula just after midnight, and authorities say the 9-1-1 call came in at about 2:30 a.m.

Also arrested in the incident were Courtney Reep, 22, and McLean Tomlinson, 23. Reep, a registered UM student is free on bond, while Tomlinson, who is not listed as a student, remains in jail on $50,000 bond.

Sergeant Colin Rose with the Missoula Police Department told KGVO News that the incident occurred in the 200 block of Pattee Canyon Drive, and it appears that no one was injured in the alleged break-in.

Noted Missoula attorney Paul Ryan told KGVO News he has been contacted about the incident, but would provide no details.

UM Athletic Director Kent Haslam said the Student Athlete Code of Conduct dictates that anyone who is charged with a felony be immediately suspended from all team activities.

"Obviously, it's disappointing and it's frustrating," Haslam said. "There's certainly a level of expectation that comes from being a student athlete, and you're required to live up to that expectation. As part of the student athlete code of conduct, when a student athlete is charged with a felony, they're immediately suspended from all team activities."

"You have the name of a state across your chest, and you have the name of a university that you carry with you wherever you go, and with that comes a great deal of responsibility," Haslam continued.."That being said, the entire football and athletic staff will do all we can to support our student athletes through this time, but there is a level of behavior that we will uphold."

 

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