The Larimer County district attorney’s office is reviewing allegations of theft and identity theft filed Friday against Colorado State basketball’s incoming freshman Stephen Franklin.
“The DA’s office will decide whether to file an affidavit. It’s under investigation until an arrest is made,” Fort Collins police department spokesperson Rita Davis said.
Franklin is an all-state guard-forward who led Aurora Central to the Class 5A state title game.
Franklin has been on campus most of the summer for offseason workouts while attending summer school.
“We want to gather all the facts before we make any determination on Stephen’s future with Colorado State basketball,” first-year coach Tim Miles said Tuesday. “(The investigation) is something we take very seriously.”
Miles faces mounting roster issues and may have fewer players than expected.
Senior guard Tyler Smith has not attended workouts all summer. If Franklin’s scholarship is revoked and Smith doesn’t return, the Rams would be down to eight eligible scholarship players.
Of those incoming players, two are four-year college transfers — 6-foot-8 forward Andy Ogide from Mississippi and 6-10 forward-center Dan Vandervieren from Purdue. Both must sit out next season because of NCAA transfer rules.
The NCAA permits a maximum of 13 scholarships; Miles had one unfilled into July.
Miles is still recruiting at least one player. With injuries, fouls and any further attrition, Miles could be forced to the walk-on ranks or to recruit two-sport athletes off the football team.
More on football player’s arrest
Davis also released more details of the weekend arrest of CSU football’s reserve defensive tackle Devin McWilliams.
He was arrested at 12:42 a.m. Sunday in Fort Collins. He had arrived at a house party in a car at the same time police arrived on a complaint.
“He was in the back of the vehicle stopped in the middle of the street and (was) observed stepping out of the vehicle,” Davis said, citing the police report. He was carrying what appeared to be a rifle that turned out to be a pellet gun.
McWilliams told police he was just moving the pellet gun into the back seat.
Davis said the gun belonged to a friend and that he was among three individuals target-shooting earlier in the day.
McWilliams, 20, has been charged with two misdemeanors for prohibited use of a firearm and disorderly conduct.
Two unnamed persons with McWilliams were detained but not charged.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
