Crime & Safety

Legal Woes Continue for Iowa State Athletes With Latest Arrest in Ames

A Cyclone charged with theft is one of a handful of local athletes who've faced legal troubles in the past year.

Another athlete is in trouble with the law, the Iowa State Daily reported Wednesday.

Cyclone football defensive back Matthew Thomas, a freshman, has been suspended from the team after he was accused of stealing an iPod from a Seasons Marketplace dining center table.

Thomas was charged with fourth-degree theft and turned himself in on a warrant and bonded out of jail, according to online court records.

Find out what's happening in Ameswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fourth-degree theft is a relatively minor charge. Two other athletes and a former athlete face much more serious charges all in unrelated incidents.

, a former Iowa State University football player, was charged with assault causing serious injury, a Class D felony, in December after the football season had ended. The charges came almost a year after a January 2011 incident, in which he allegedly struck a woman in the face knocking her unconscious. Brooks pleaded not guilty at an arraignment and the case is pending, according to online court records. Brooks, a senior, was no longer eligible to play and was not suspended.

Find out what's happening in Ameswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In November, , another football player, turned himself in on first-degree robbery charges. Gary was allegedly with a group of five other men who were accused of committing armed robbery on campus June 19. Gary pleaded not guilty at an arraignment and the case is pending, according to Story County Court records. The charge is a class B felony, punishable by 25 years in prison.

And, most recently, a former Iowa State University wrestler, , 22, who has a history of legal troubles, was charged with two counts of assault, interference with official acts, and public intoxication. On Feb. 1, he allegedly wouldn't leave and was seen punching employees, according to a criminal complaint. He bonded out of jail shortly after his arrest and has been barred from re-entering the pub, according to records.

SEE MORE ON PATCH


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.