Brandon Boyle caught 96
passes for 1,533 yards and 18 touchdowns last season as a
junior. Castleton State athletics photo |
Castleton State All-America wide receiver Brandon Boyle and a teammate, quarterback George Busharis, were issued criminal citations for theft at a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Rutland, Vt., according to The Eagle, a newspaper in Vermont.
Busharis was stopped by state police in the parking lot of the store and was determined to have had a little more than $300 in merchandise which he had not paid for, the paper reported. Upon questioning, he admitted that Boyle, who had been an employee of the store, had helped him steal the merchandise and had done so on previous occasions as well.
According to the store's security, there is surveillance video showing Boyle having helped other friends steal merchandise from the store as well.
Busharis and Boyle were cited and released.
"The young men who have received criminal citations have been suspended indefinitely from the football program," the college said in a revised statement Wednesday night. "This matter remains under investigation in cooperation with law enforcement. Indeed, late this afternoon the college learned that four other Castleton student-athletes may have been involved as well. Those individuals have been suspended indefinitely from the team pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. Obviously, the alleged behavior is unacceptable for any student, whether or not he or she has the privilege of intercollegiate athletic participation."
Boyle was a D3football.com All-America selection last season and caught eight passes for 156 yards and a touchdown in the Spartans' 35-31 win against Plymouth State. Busharis started at quarterback in that game and completed 25 of 40 passes for 463 yards and two touchdowns, without getting picked off.