ucsb arrests, suspensions

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SoCalHoops College News

Two UCSB Players Suspended
From Team, Arrested--(Nov. 15, 1999)

Sometimes we take no pleasure in reporting or passing along the details of a story. This is one of those times. The University of California at Santa Barbara has suspended two of it's players, Larry Bell and Eric Hare, "indefinitely" following the arrest of both on charges of fraudulent use of a credit card late last week according to a published report in the Santa Barbara News-Press. The two were reportedly arrested Wednesday and accused of running up charges of more than $3,000 by using someone else's telephone credit card. As a result of the arrest and subsequent continuing investigaiton, the two players "have been suspended from the team indefinitely pending the outcome of the investigation."

The report was carried last Thursday in the Santa Barbara News-Press, and because the paper only archives its stories for a limited period, we're going to reprint it below. As a result of the suspension of one of the players, it's possible that Santa Barbara Coach Bob Williams will have to re-evaluate the decision to redshirt B.J. Ward (6'-0" Fr. PG) this year, as the only other true point guard on the team this year. Here's the story:

Senior Larry Bell and freshman Eric Hare are suspended
from basketball team indefinitely pending outcome of probe.

11/11/99

By MARK PATTON

NEWS-PRESS SPORTS EDITOR

e-mail: mpatton@newspress.com

UCSB basketball players Larry Bell and Eric Hare were arrested Wednesday and accused of running up more than $3,000 in charges by using a telephone calling card that didn't belong to them.

UCSB police arrested Bell, a 22-year-old senior, and Hare, a 20-year-old redshirt freshman, at the apartment they share along the 700 block of El Camino del Sur in Isla Vista at about 7 a.m. on suspicion of felony fraudulent use of a stolen calling card. "We reasoned it was a felony charge because at this time the total loss to the victim is in excess of $3,000," said UCSB Police Chief John MacPherson. "We believe more than 500 calls were placed over a three- to four-month period of time to locations inside and outside of California."

In a prepared statement, university athletic officials announced that the two players "have been suspended from the team indefinitely pending the outcome of the investigation." The Gauchos are playing the Lithuanian National Team in an exhibition game tonight at 7 o'clock at the Thunderdome.

Gaucho coach Bob Williams said he could not comment on the arrests, although he did note that, "Larry is an important part of our program, as Eric is. Larry was vital in our championship run last year and is a team leader," Williams said. "And Eric is an exciting young prospect for the future."

At this time, detectives suspect that only one card was used.

"The victim tells us that her card was either lost or stolen," MacPherson said. "She's not sure. The bills and the number of calls brought it to her attention." McPherson did not provide any more information about the victim or details about the alleged calls because the investigation is continuing.

Bell and Hare, who were held in County Jail on $5,000 bail apiece, were later released on their own recognizance after promising to appear at a Dec. 3 arraignment. Bell transferred to UCSB last year after having led Compton College to a state JC championship. He was the Gauchos' leading assist man last season with an average of 4.3 per game and was a key component to their pressure defense. He started 14 games and was considered one of the team's leaders in its drive to the Big West Conference Western Division championship. The 6-foot-2 senior started at a wing position but also backed up Derrick Allen at point-guard -- roles that he was expected to continue this season. Bell has been out of action the last few weeks, however, with a broken foot. He will be re-evaluated by doctors next week and it was hoped that he would return to practice later this month.

Williams conceded that Bell's status could force him to change his decision about redshirting B.J. Ward, a freshman who led Oxnard's Santa Clara High to a state championship last year. If Bell is unable to play, Ward is the only other true point guard available to spell Allen at that position.

"Until I know the full ramifications of it, it would just be conjecture on my part to say whether or not B.J. is still redshirting," Williams said. "Until I know how long the suspensions are, there's no way for me at this time to make that kind of decision."

Hare, a 6-5 and 230-pound freshman forward from McKinney, Tex., sat out last season as a redshirt. He did play in UCSB's exhibition game Sunday against the Mount Gambier Pioneers, an Australian club team, and scored four points with three rebounds and two assists in 14 minutes of playing time. At McKinney High School, he received first-team All-State honors after averaging 21.8 points and 13.0 rebounds per game.

News-Press staff writer Dawn Hobbs contributed to this story.