Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Editor
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers and 4 alternative flow or former ISU and Iowa athletes have pleaded in charge to underage playing, a discounted fee, later a environment investigation into sports activities wagering.
Dekkers, offensive lineman Jake Remsburg, former Iowa Surrounding participant Dodge Sauser, former Iowa kicker Aaon Blom and previous Iowa baseball participant Gehrig Christensen all entered in charge pleas. They and alternative Iowa Surrounding and Iowa athletes have been charged with tampering with data, an irritated misdemeanor that carried a most penalty of 2 years in jail.
The underage playing fee carries a advantageous of $645. Not one of the males will face additional prison consequences.
“The original records tampering charge against these young men never fit this case, either legally or factually,” lawyer Mark Weinhardt, who represents Dekkers, Remsburg and Sauser, mentioned in a remark. “Hunter, Jake, and Dodge are not and never were guilty of that charge. The charge has nothing to do with gambling. Other than the fact that Hunter, Jake, and Dodge placed some bets before they turned 21, nothing about those bets was a crime under Iowa law.”
Weinhardt mentioned the athletes can now “focus on the educational and eligibility aspects of this matter.”
Greater than a lot flow or former Iowa Surrounding and Iowa athletes have been charged within the environment’s investigation. Many have admitted to the usage of on-line accounts belonging to their oldsters or others over 21 to park sports activities wagers.
A number of athletes positioned wagers on occasions involving their very own groups, which will govern to everlasting eligibility loss, in keeping with NCAA regulations. Remsburg is going through a six-game suspense from the NCAA, in keeping with assets. He admitted to wagering $1,108 on occasions, together with six NCAA-sanctioned video games.
Dekkers admitted to wagering $2,700 on occasions, together with a soccer match when he used to be at the crew. He residue on ISU’s roster however has no longer been taking part in crew actions. Alternative important ISU avid gamers, akin to working again Jirehl Brock and defensive lineman Isaiah Lee, have left this system.
Sauser, an offensive lineman who didn’t take part in any video games at ISU, admitted to wagering greater than $3,075 on wearing occasions, together with 4 Cyclones video games by which he didn’t take part.
Blom used to be accused of striking wagers on some Iowa occasions, together with the Iowa-Iowa Surrounding soccer match in 2021, by which he didn’t play games.
