Witness tells of theft that led to student’s fraud charges

A University of Virginia freshman testified Thursday that he thought he had canceled his student debit card after his wallet disappeared last month, only to discover 19 extra transactions the next day.
Andrew Cassidy took the stand in Albemarle General District Court during the first part of a preliminary hearing for UVa students Lester Guy Spellman III and former redshirt linebacker J’Courtney Rydell Williams. Spellman, 18, and Williams, 19, were charged March 31 with credit card theft and credit card fraud in connection with Cassidy’s stolen wallet.
Cassidy said he went to the Aquatics and Fitness Center on campus the night of March 10 to play basketball.
“I put my wallet with my hoodie and my cell phone close to the windows that look in where the basketball courts are,” testified Cassidy, who went to play basketball for about two hours before he returned for his belongings. “… My hoodie and cell phone were in the spot where I left them on the bench.”
Cassidy said he wasn’t able to find his wallet and called the police once he got back to his dorm.
His wallet contained about $20 and several cards, including his Cavs card, according to a search warrant affidavit. The card is a student ID with an account that can be used as a debit card for the bookstore or vending machines.
According to court documents, Cassidy’s card was used repeatedly during four hours in the vending area of the Tuttle dorm. Cassidy testified Thursday that the transactions on the card totaled about $22.
Williams was a resident of Tuttle back in March, according to a search warrant affidavit, and his ID was used to get into the vending area one minute before Cassidy’s card started racking up transactions. The documents also said Williams had used his ID card to get into the fitness center 23 minutes before Cassidy entered with his ID. Williams told police that Spellman had the card on him March 10, and both of them used the ID at the vending machines, according to the affidavit.
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue May 22, in part because Williams did not have a lawyer Thursday. Williams and Spellman remain free on bond.