Kayne Farquharson placed on six months probation, fined

Under a plea agreement, former Nebraska Danger players Claude Wroten and Kayne Farquharson were sentenced on Friday to six months probation and ordered to pay restitution and fines for the use of financial transaction device.

Wroten was initially charged with a felony and a misdemeanor, while Farquharson was charged with one misdemeanor. Under the plea agreement, both were found guilty of misdemeanors.

Wroten, 31, pleaded no contest to unauthorized use of a financial transaction device, involving $200 to $500, and theft of property, lost or mislaid. District Judge Philip Martin assessed two fines against Wroten totaling $550.

Farquharson, 30, pleaded no contest to unauthorized use of financial transaction device, involving up to $200. He was fined $350.

In addition to the probation, both men were ordered to pay court costs of $49 each.

Together, the two men will also have to pay restitution of up to $813.74.

Wroten and Farquharson used a debit-credit card belonging to Carol Knauss, which Wroten found in the parking lot of Pumpers. Farquharson used the card to buy shoes at Foot Locker, and Wroten used the card to pay a Charter Communications bill. The crimes occurred on May 4 and 5.

Attorney Robert Alexander, representing Farquharson, said his client has no prior record as far as he can determine and that Farquharson has been "very cooperative in this matter."

Wroten told Martin that he called Charter to make sure the problem was resolved and that the shoes had been returned to Foot Locker with the receipt.

Wroten said that he had used poor judgment and "would like to put this behind me and move forward."

Marvin Anderson, Wroten’s lawyer, said his client literally found opportunity lying at his feet in the parking lot and exercised poor judgement.

Anderson also asked that the fine against his client be lowered because Danger players don’t make a lot of money. They play, he said, "for the love of the game." Martin lowered the amount from what the state had recommended.

In an interview outside the courtroom, Wroten said he had the money put back on Knauss’ card "because I’m a good character guy."

After the crime, Wroten realized that he’s familiar with Knauss.

"I know this lady," he said, adding that they’ve run into each other at Pumpers. "We hug, kiss, talk about great things in Grand Island and Danger football and whatnot. So I took it upon myself to do that and make sure she got reimbursed."

If they violate probation, the men will face up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.


(theindependent.com)