NEW YORK COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM UNIVERSITY CAMPUS BY CCSU FOOTBALL PLAYERSNewsday.com: Three CCSU football players arrestedThree CCSU football players arrested

December 1, 2005, 4:13 PM EST


NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- Three Central Connecticut State University football players have been arrested in the theft of laptop computers and other electronic equipment from campus dorm rooms.

Rafiel J. Nyakako, James A. Cole and Chris Basile, all 18, were arrested Monday and charged with burglary, larceny and criminal trespass after a monthlong investigation.

The trio burglarized several unlocked rooms at the Robert C. Vance Residence Hall last month, entering at night while the occupants were asleep, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

The three admitted their involvement after being confronted with evidence including security video, police said.

Police recovered four laptops, one digital camera and a PlayStation 2 video game, according to the affidavit. An MP3 player and $125 in cash were still missing, police said.

Nyakako, a freshman linebacker from Patterson, N.J., was the only one of the three players to see action this past football season, said university spokesman Nicholas Pettinico Jr. Cole of Pittsburgh and Basile of Brooklyn, N.Y., were both red-shirt freshmen.

Calls to the athletic department Thursday were referred to a university spokesman, who released a statement saying students charged with a crime can face school sanctions including expulsion.

"These proceedings may be carried out prior to or simultaneously with criminal proceedings," the statement said.

This is the second computer theft case involving athletes at a state university.

Two University of Connecticut basketball players received probation for selling stolen laptops there.

Point guards A.J. Price and Marcus Williams were both suspended from the school and the basketball team.

Williams received a one-semester suspension, and is expected to return to the team in January. Price has been suspended for the year.