LOS ANGELES (AP) -A University of Southern California football recruit was charged Friday in connection with the robbery of a man on a Compton street.
Maurice Simmons, 18, and another man, 19-year-old Lamont Hall, were charged with second-degree robbery and assault with a firearm. Both pleaded not guilty in court.
Simmons is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker from Dominguez High School in Compton. He signed a letter of intent last month to accept a USC scholarship for this fall.
On Wednesday night, gang enforcement deputies in Compton were flagged down by a person who reported being robbed, Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said.
“Moments after that, the alleged suspects were discovered in a vehicle leaving the scene,” he said.
The victim and witnesses identified two men inside as the robbers, he said.
Simmons, who was driving, and Hall were arrested and a handgun and the victim’s stolen property were found in the car, Whitmore said.
Other details were not immediately provided.
“We’re aware of it and we’re going to monitor the situation,” USC sports information director Tim Tessalone said.
Simmons is the younger brother of Melvin “Champ” Simmons, who was a USC linebacker during the 2002-03 seasons. Another brother, Marvin, also intended to play at USC but did not qualify for entrance. He later played at Kansas State.
A Superior Court judge set Simmons’ bail at $85,000, and Hall’s at $215,000. The two were scheduled to return to court March 26 for a preliminary hearing.
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