UVa football players not guilty

Two University of Virginia football players charged with stealing beer from Club 216 were cleared Monday in Charlottesville General District Court.

Starting right tackle Will Barker and Dave Roberts, a redshirt freshman, faced charges stemming from a July 26 incident at Club 216. The security manager alleged that the players stole two beers from the club’s back bar, according to a police report.

But Judge Robert H. Downer found the players not guilty.

While acquitted of the theft charge, Roberts pleaded guilty to possession of a fake ID and will enter a pre-conviction probation program as a result of an underage possession of alcohol charge.

Roberts will take part in the same program former UVa quarterback Peter Lalich enrolled in for similar charges. Lalich drank alcohol while in the program and was kicked off the team. He has since left UVa.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Matt Quatrara disagreed with the outcome.

“While we respect the court’s decision, we think the evidence was more than sufficient,” he said.

Barker’s attorney, Rhonda Quagliana, likened the incident to picking up and drinking a beverage in a store before paying for it.

“The issue was the intent to conceal,” she said. “They didn’t move or conceal [the beers].”

Daily Progress staff writer Tasha Kates contributed to this story.