Linebacker, student sentenced to 4 days in jail

J’Courtney Rydell Williams, 19, said his family always told him to stay out of trouble. Williams said he managed to do so in high school, but college was a different story.

The former University of Virginia red-shirt linebacker pleaded guilty Thursday to credit-card fraud, and fellow UVa student Lester Guy Spellman III pleaded guilty to petty larceny. Both were expected to report that day to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail to serve four-day sentences on the misdemeanor convictions.

Police had accused the men of using a stolen student ID on March 10 to buy about $20 worth of items out of campus vending machines.

“At first I really didn’t see any harm in a student ID,” Williams said. “… That $20 affected the rest of my future.”

Police said the investigation began after a UVa first-year student reported his wallet missing from the Aquatics & Fitness Center. The student, Andrew Cassidy, previously testified that he left his belongings on a bench in the center so he could play basketball, and returned two hours later to find his wallet missing. When Cassidy checked the account of his Cavs card, a student ID that can be used as a debit card, he discovered someone had used it.

According to a search warrant affidavit, Williams’ ID was used to get into a vending area one minute before transactions were recorded on Cassidy’s card. Court documents showed Spellman’s involvement came up during a conversation between police and Williams.

Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Denise Lunsford said she handled the cases as she would with any other first-time offenders.

“They were treated the same way as anyone else,” Lunsford said.

Lunsford said the men received 30 days of jail time on the misdemeanor charges, but 26 days were suspended pending good behavior for the next two years. The men also were ordered to pay $42.40 in restitution, which Lunsford said would cover the cost of the charges and the cards.

UVa football coach Al Groh dismissed Williams from the program in early April, two days after his arrest. Williams said he made a “critical mistake.”

“I just feel like I let down my parents,” Williams said Thursday. “Everyone was looking forward to seeing me play.”

Williams said he will start classes at Hampton University in June, and will play on the school’s football team this year.

A call to Spellman’s attorney was not immediately returned.