Tuesday, March 4, 2008

University of Virginia police charged junior cornerback Mike Brown with grand larceny, possession of stolen property with intent to sell, altering serial numbers and possession of marijuana, police announced yesterday. The charges stemmed from a Feb. 6 call reporting someone had stolen four items worth more than $3,400 from a car parked in a garage on campus.

"We take allegations of this nature very seriously," Coach Al Groh said in a statement. "At this time we are currently gathering the facts. In view of the nature of the allegation, Mike Brown is not participating with the program at this time."

Brown's trouble adds to the Cavaliers' tumultuous offseason. Four players, most notably quarterback Jameel Sewell and cornerback Chris Cook, are not enrolled at Virginia for academic reasons and will not play in 2008. Last week defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald, expected to be Virginia's best defensive player, left school.

Brown, 21, missed all of last season with a knee injury but was expected to compete for the starting spot vacated by Cook. Brown played in all 24 games during his first two seasons, starting three in 2005 and one in 2006. He led Virginia in punt returns his sophomore season.

-- Adam Kilgore