February 4, 2010 - 10:20pm
Report: Defensive back recruit Dorsey confessed to two burglaries in 2007
By: Ryan Kartje
After questions arose at yesterday's Signing Day press conference about star recruit Demar Dorsey's previous felony charges, the Detroit Free Press has obtained documents today that reportedly show that Dorsey was an active participant in and confessed to two burglaries in 2007.
According to the Broward County 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, an individual with the same name and birth date as the Michigan recruit had two felony charges on his record: one for robbery with a deadly weapon in 2008 and another for burglary of an unoccupied dwelling in 2007.
Both cases were subsequently closed, according to the court's website.
The Free Press’s report today says that, in November 2007, after being charged for his part in two early morning burglaries, Dorsey was never convicted and instead was put through a "diversion program for juvenile defenders" with the Urban League of Broward County.
According to the Urban League's website, "Participants are first time offenders who are referred by the court to a diversion program in lieu of receiving a jail sentence. Participants must complete and graduate from a 12-week program which includes community restoration activities, victim advocacy services, victim restitution, conflict resolution training and anger management."
The report goes on to cite an additional burglary charge in June 2007. Dorsey was acquitted of the burglary, and according to the Free Press, "got a break then, too, with prosecutors sending him to the diversion program."
The Free Press reports that the documents show that in November 2007 Dorsey and four other men were driving in a car with several stolen items as well as "window punches," which are used to quietly shatter windows. Dorsey and one of the other men reportedly broke into the back of a house and were subsequently confronted by the homeowner in the living room.
Dorsey was also reported to have worn his football gloves at the scene to cover up fingerprints, according to the Free Press article.
The Free Press report also claimed that in Dorsey's June 2008 court case for felony robbery charges, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native was charged as an adult, but the case was thrown out due to a lack of evidence.
During yesterday's press conference, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez responded to questions of Dorsey's character by defending his prized recruit, citing that young people are "sometimes in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"There’s nobody on this football team that we’re signing that has a felony conviction and there’s nobody on this football team that we’re signing that has a misdemeanor conviction,” Rodriguez said. “You have to look at the whole story before you pass judgment on a young man. Not everybody is perfect."
