After a rather passive incident led to us resetting the “Days Without An Arrest” ticker, an incident a little more serious in nature added to the legal roll.
The Roanoke Times is reporting that running back Shai McKenzie was charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor following an incident that occurred last month. Both of those charges are misdemeanors.
An 18-year-old Tech student, Devin Gavion, was charged with a felony after both he and McKenzie were investigated for carnal knowledge of a child between the ages of 13 and 15, an investigation that remains ongoing. From the Times’ account of the warrants filed against both McKenzie and Gavion:Police obtained a warrant for McKenzie and Gavion’s DNA on Feb. 27 after two girls, one 15 years old and another 14, met two adult males using social media, who they later identified as McKenzie and Gavion.
The warrant states that an investigation included information that the group met at a home in Christiansburg “and it was revealed” they “had sexual intercourse” between Feb. 11 and Feb. 15. Four condoms were also recovered from the residence, according to the warrant.
As a result of the charges, McKenzie has been indefinitely suspended from the football program by head coach Frank Beamer.
“We are aware of the situation and misdemeanor arrest. We take these matters seriously,” Tech athletic director Whit Babcock said in a statement to the paper. “Coach Beamer has suspended Shai indefinitely from all team related activities as of yesterday. It’s in the hands of the proper authorities and we will respect the process.”
McKenzie, a four-star member of Tech’s 2014 recruiting class, was second on the team in rushing with 269 yards when he tore an ACL in late September. He was expected to be a limited participant during spring practice but return healthy for the start of summer camp.