While most University students probably attributed the Virginia football team's 0-2 start to turnovers and sloppy defense, the traumatic aftereffects of a massive theft also might have had something to do with it.
Shawn Edward Tate, a 19-year-old Albemarle County resident and former University employee, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of stealing from Onesty Hall $34,500 of personal items from 11 University football players between Aug. 5 and 8.
The stolen goods "were personal items of first- and second-year football players," University Police Sgt. Melissa Fielding said.
Tate appeared in Charlottesville General District Court yesterday for his arraignment, where he was assigned Lloyd Snook III as his attorney.
Tate will appear in court next on Dec. 5 for his preliminary hearing, according to Steven Walker, a deputy clerk in the court.
The University Police charged Tate with 11 felony counts of larceny and one felony count of breaking and entering.
Each felony count of larceny carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail, Commonwealth Attorney spokeswoman Toni Tuthill said.
Clothing and electronics were among the items that were stolen, Fielding said.
The police recovered 89 of the items, which are being held as evidence, while other items have not been recovered, Fielding said.
Tate was fired in July from his position as an athletic department maintenance employee, Associate Athletic Director Jason Bauman said.
"There were some work habits that just weren't positive," Bauman said.
Tate allegedly stole a pair of keys from a supervisor and used them to enter the storage room, he added.
Bauman added that Tate was not issued keys as part of his job.
The football team opened the season Aug. 22 at home with a 35-29 loss to Colorado State, before students had moved into their dorms.
For this reason, the items were stored in Onesty Hall, Fielding said.
"Ordinarily these things wouldn't be stored there," she said.
The football players were staying in the Cavalier Inn when the thefts occurred, which is why some of their items were being stored Onesty Hall, Bauman said.
Fielding said, however, that the theft did not occur because of any problem with the storage space.
"It was as sufficient as any storage area on Grounds," Fielding said.
Bauman said he will work to see that all the stolen items are either returned or replaced.
Read More
Will Ryan’s resignation impact the University’s reaccreditation?
By Leigh Bailey | 1 hours agoDr. Janea Johnson, public relations and data specialist at SACSCOC, said in a written statement to The Cavalier Daily July 28 that “a change in leadership does not automatically become a compliance concern.”
United Healthcare takes over as student health insurance provider
By Lauren Seeliger | 6 hours agoAll University students are required to be medically insured, but the University student plan is only required for students who do not have other, valid health insurance.
University community leaders gather at the Rotunda to speak about interim President Mahoney
By Xander Tilock | 11 hours agoEach speaker addressed concerns over a lack of input from students, faculty, staff and community members in the circumstances which led to former University President Jim Ryan’s resignation and the decision-making process since then.
