Alonso Tacanga
Sports Editor
The son of CSUN men’s basketball Head Coach Bobby Braswell, Jeffrey Robert Braswell, along with two players – team leading-scorer, senior Deon Tresvant and freshman guard Dallas Rutherford – have been charged with commercial burglary and grand theft for allegedly stealing more than $6,600 in merchandise from a Best Buy located in Porter Ranch on New Year’s Day. A fourth person, Phannuel Gbewonyo, 28, was also among the ones charged.
“I have no idea what’s going on with that,” Tresvant said during a telephone conversation that was cut short on Tuesday. “I don’t know anything about that.”
The younger Braswell, who – as of the date of the alleged incident – worked for the store, has been accused of logging into a cash register using the password of an employee who had the day off and allowing Tresvant, Rutherford and Gbewonyo to check out items without paying for them. The thefts were discovered when Best Buy officials found a discrepancy at the register.
Braswell is charged with one count of second-degree commercial burglary and three counts of grand theft over $400. Gbewonyo, Tresvant and Rutherford are charged with one count each of second-degree commercial burglary and grand theft over $400
Braswell, who was arrested Jan. 3, was still being held on $60,000 bail as of early Tuesday. His three co-defendants (who were arrested Jan. 5), however, were released Monday after posting $20,000 bail each.
Tresvant, Rutherford and Gbewonyo are scheduled to appear at San Fernando Superior Court on Jan. 26.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed with the circumstances that have taken place with my son Jeffrey and the allegations regarding Deon [Tresvant] and Dallas [Rutherford],” Bobby Braswell said in a statement. “At this point, we will allow the judicial process to unfold. As far as my son’s involvement, it is a private matter that my family and support system will deal with.”
The future of Tresvant and Rutherford as Matadors is uncertain. The senior averaged 21 points in his last four games. Rutherford is the son of Dudley Rutherford, pastor of the Shepherd of the Hills church in Porter Ranch. Rutherford’s sister, Kayla, is also a member of the Northridge basketball family. She plays on the women’s team.
“The playing status of the two team members is undetermined at this point in time as it is still early in the investigation process,” said Assistant Athletic Director Bob Vazquez, quoting a statement released by the university Tuesday.
On Monday night, Tresvant and Rutherford were nowhere in sight at The Matadome, where CSUN was facing UC Davis for a Big West Conference game. The Matadors ended up winning the match 84-81 behind 25 points from Tremaine Townsend. At the subsequent press conference, Townsend along with teammates Josh Jenkins and Rob Haynes opened up the round of interviews by saying they wouldn’t answer questions related to “teammates not being present.”
Great story, excellent reporting Alonso! =]
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STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!!!!! All of the individuals involved…STUPID!!!!
Its an on going investigation.. lets not speculate and lets focus on the teams goal; and that is to win another big west championship.. Go Matadors!!!!!!!!
CSUN should reevaluate its current basketball program!!
When I read the Daily News article regarding 4 student athletes robbying
a local best buy store, I had to remark, What were they thinking?
I feel as a CSUN alumni that all 4 players should be suspended and cut
from the basketball team. When I read CSUN basketball coach Bobby Braswell’s son was the king pin of the operation It says little about our
new generation. As for 3 of the immature kids being christian, this sets up
loads of question marks about The parents and the pastor. As for Dudley
the racist pastor, also I can say is, Don’t judge gays or others that don’t agree with your out of touch point of views and be a better parent to
Dallas and the other shepard of the thieves. I suggest that all 4 athletes
owe the community a simple explanation. As for coach Braswell, I would
immediatedly fire this bafoon and the CSUN program get a more reputable
coach who can displine his players and not be on the police blotter.
As for Shepard of the thieves,I would have their elders demand for Dudley’s resignation and send this racist pastor back to the land of
red necks.
Agreed !
Great job getting the story, Alonso!!
CSUNdave is an idiot
Rumor around campus is that lots of Best Buy stuff was for sale. Could it be that the Braswell Crew finally got caught??
Rumor around campus is that a lot of stuff from Best Buy is being sold. Maybe the Braswell crew has been busier than we all thought??
Update from The Shepard of The Thieves, The racist pastor goes into denial over Dallas the dounce!! I find it interesting that Dudley the racist
Pastor is still in another world and time. This man is so full of himself that
all the actions of all the born again thieves is seen by his clones as a
devil thing. I hate to say this to all Shepard of the Thieves attendees that
when you cheat, rob, steal and kill, these very acts are subject to yet
another higher authority, our legal system. I feel that attacks made on me by a senseless idiot named heather show you the general public that indeed This Church is full of hypocrisy, racism and the like. In October 2008, cries of biogtry and racism hit the air as all The Shepard Homophobics were dening Gays their rightuss and earlier the same racist
Pastor was blantly call on the same rheotic towards moslems, jews, latinos,
and other groups that had a different lifestyle than theirs. I think that since this story has broke, your seeing a religious community that is so hateful
that Dallas the dounce and the other born again thieves belong in the slammer, as for Dudley the racist and Bobby the inept Braswell they both
show how sick their brand of religion is. maybe Dudley shouldn’t take
handouts from Bert Boeckmann or use the services of the LAPD parking
bureau for his own advantage. I ask that informed CSUN students and the people in the community call on councilman Greig Smith’s office and ask the nit wit about how much contributions he recieved from the Shepard
of the Thieves church, I bet if other groups asked that same councilman would probably want his palm greased.
I’m sure this isn’t a ‘one off’ thing. It’s just that the amount was big enough to spark questions. Anyone who has ever worked in a large store or knew someone who does, knows the checkout scam….if they went and looked at all tapes and videos they’d see all kinds of stuff, bicycles, vcr’s, games and everything else being checked free by another’s login or even by the same person….these kids just got caught this time…next time your in line…just watch the register….you’ll see it happen under slight of hand in front of you….its rampant
Hey CSUNDAVE….
Have the courage to set up a meeting with Dudley Rutherford and talk to him about these issues directly. You have no idea who he is or who his family is…..You sit behind your computer and spread your hateful venom about people you don’t even know. Maybe you will one day MAN UP…call the church and ask to meet with Dudley in person. That will never happen because you are afraid of what truth you just might learn intstead of sitting in your house of ignorance!