COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Two Texas A&M football players
accused of tying up and mugging a drug dealer at gunpoint have been
indicted on felony robbery charges.
Yemi Babalola and Brandon Joiner were indicted Thursday on two
counts each of aggravated robbery, the district attorney's office
said.
Joiner was also indicted on one felony count of manufacturing or
delivering methamphetamine and two misdemeanor counts of possessing
marijuana and hydrocodone, according to the prosecutor's office.
Babalola also faces a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.
Aggravated robbery is a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to
99 years or life in prison. Manufacturing or delivering a
controlled substance is a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to
20 years in prison.
Neither man had an attorney listed in his court file, and The
Associated Press could not find home telephone numbers for them.
Neither immediately returned e-mail messages seeking comment.
Both players have been suspended pending the outcome of their cases.
The indictments were first reported by the Bryan-College Station Eagle.
According to the police statement, one resident suffered minor
injuries in the alleged home invasion at the Callaway Villas
Apartments on Nov. 29. Police said two men entered the apartment,
one carrying a semiautomatic pistol.
The investigation led to searches of both suspects' homes, where
drugs -- marijuana, ecstasy and hydrocodone -- and other evidence
were found, the police said.
The 21-year-old Babalola, a 315-pound offensive tackle, played
in nine games last season, including six starts. He was suspended
indefinitely and did not play in the Aggies' 24-17 loss to Penn
State in the Alamo Bowl.
Joiner, an 18-year-old freshman defensive end from Killeen,
redshirted last season. He was also suspended indefinitely from
team activities.
Texas A&M sports information director Alan Cannon said Friday
the indictment has not affected the players' status.