Former Football Players Charged With Robberies Plead Not Guilty
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Two former college football players have been charged with a series of robberies in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Former USC tight end Bryce Dixon and former Louisiana State University defensive lineman Trey Lealaimatafao, both 19, pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon to five counts each of second-degree robbery and one count each of carjacking, attempted carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon.
The two are accused of carrying out a two-day crime spree earlier this week. Prosecutors alleged Dixon and Lealaimatafao robbed five people and committed a carjacking in the Los Angeles area. The Ventura County District Attorney's office is expected to file charges against the defendants for at least two robberies there.
One victim who did not want to reveal her name said she pulled into the parking garage of her downtown L.A. apartment on early Tuesday morning when she saw two men following her.
"I pulled out my pepper spray. Then I noticed that one guy pulled out a knife, and then the other said he had a gun on him. At one point, the one who claimed he had a gun; I never saw the gun. He looked big like a football player, like very athletic," the victim added.
She said she gave the suspected robbers her mobile phone and cash and called police.
Dixon and Lealaimatafao reportedly met at football camp and once had a promising future in college football.
Dixon was expelled from USC in 2014 after a female USC student accused him of sexual misconduct. The Oxnard native was a football star at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura.
The school's current head coach told CBS2/KCAL9's Serene Branson Thursday night that he is devastated that a promising player threw away his future.
After a judge put the expulsion on hold, Dixon was allowed to re-enroll in the university, but was not allowed to rejoin the football team.
Lealaimatafao, a redshirt freshman, was kicked off the LSU football team last June after his arrest in connection with an off-campus fight.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Sergio C. Tapia II ordered Dixon to be held on $420,000 bail and Lealaimatafao to remain locked up on $400,000 bond.
The two are due back in court Feb. 2 for a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for them to stand trial.
"I would say it's prematurely charged and that the case on my initial review is weak. We're confident that he is going to be vindicated," said Dixon's attorney Joshua E. Ritter.
Branson was unable to reach any family members of both young men for comment.
