Arrest warrants
The next time Nu'Keese Richardson and Mike Edwards show up for court, their former Vol teammate won't be with them.
Prosecutors dropped attempted aggravated robbery charges Monday against University of Tennessee football player Janzen Jackson and a woman accused as a getaway driver but said they'll press ahead with the case against Richardson and Edwards, recently booted from the team.
Jackson's status on the football team remains to be determined.
"That's up to coach (Lane) Kiffin," said his lawyer, Don Bosch.
Jackson, 18, and fellow UT student Marie Lynn Montmarquet, 22, had faced the attempted robbery charges after a botched holdup Nov. 12 at the Pilot convenience store on Cumberland Avenue. Knoxville police said the players tried to hold up three men outside the store around 1:45 a.m., only to be shown empty wallets and offered a cheeseburger.
"It's a classic case of a good person being in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Montmarquet's lawyer, Gregory P. Isaacs.
Prosecutors reviewed all evidence, including more than 10 hours of surveillance video and taped interviews, which "failed to show (Jackson or Montmarquet) had prior knowledge that the attempted robbery was going to take place and were unaware something had occurred until after they pulled out of the Pilot store," Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols wrote in a news release. "Therefore, there is an insufficient legal basis to continue a prosecution against them."
Bosch said Jackson stayed in the back seat of Montmarquet's car and didn't learn what had happened until he was on the way back to his dorm room at Gibbs Hall. He said the surveillance video played a key role in clearing his client.
"We have said all along that Janzen Jackson did not commit any crime," Bosch said. "Mr. Jackson did not know a crime was going to be committed. Our investigation determined that as well. He did not know a crime had been committed until other individuals got back in the car. He did not see what happened.
"I frankly wish this had been determined a week ago. The state moves at its own speed."
The store clerk said she noticed one of the players acting strangely inside the store before the robbery. The three stickup victims identified Richardson and Edwards as the men who confronted them but said a third man walked up with the warning, "We've got to go," according to court records.
Bosch said his client didn't go inside the store. He said he didn't expect Jackson to be called as a witness against his former teammates.
"There was no deal cut to testify," Bosch said. "If he's called to court, he will testify that he didn't see anything."
Montmarquet, a pre-law student, still faces charges of possession of marijuana and of drug paraphernalia. She'll return to court on those charges in February.
She said she's just glad to have the robbery case over.
"Marie was not guilty and did not have any involvement," said Isaacs, her lawyer. "It's unfortunate that she's gone through the process this far. She looks forward to graduating and going on with her career."
Edwards' lawyer, David Eldridge, said he'll prepare for the next hearing.
"Regardless of the merits of the state's case, he realizes he made a terribly poor mistake in judgement by putting himself in that position," Eldridge said. "Since then he has tried to make the right decision. He has finished the fall semester at UT, and he is grateful for that opportunity."
Richardson's lawyer, Jamie Poston, said she wasn't ready to discuss details.
"He's a good kid, and there's a lot more to this case than meets the eye," she said.
Kiffin kicked Edwards and Richardson off the team Nov. 16. Jackson remains on the team, barred from all activities.
The university did not make a decision Monday on Jackson's playing status, said Tiffany Carpenter, public relations director for UT athletics, and there has been no timetable set for a decision.
Cory B. Zickefoose, Benjamin J. Everett and Corey M. Smith told police the robbery attempt happened when they were confronted by two men in black, hooded sweatshirts with what looked like a pistol. The men demanded "everything you have," according to court records.
The three, who had empty wallets, later identified Edwards and Richardson as the holdup men, police said. They couldn't say for sure who held the gun, according to a police report.
Officers stopped a 2010 Toyota Prius driven by Montmarquet soon after the holdup and found a pellet gun, two black hoodies, marijuana and a marijuana grinder inside, according to records. Montmarquet told police the grinder was hers, according to the police report.
Matt Lakin may be reached at 865-342-6306.
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
Tennessee 73, Georgia 62 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 44
volstasis writes:
I personally hope that Meyer dosen't take the ND job. That way, we can listen to his cry baby a** excuses when Kiffin stomps the hell out of him for the next few years.
volpreacher writes:
He's as good as gone. This is a smoke screen. But I do wish he would stay,as UF gets a whipping at Knoxville next year. Never say never about a coach who changes his mind. After all UM has done it twice.
rudy123 writes:
Didn't Nick "Satan" say he was not interested in the Alabama job, the day before the took the job?
Didn't the BObby Petrino say pubicly that he was
going to stay with the Falcon's the day before he
went to Arkansas?
There is a reason that they call him "Urban Liar" He has nothing else to prove at FLorida.
He knows U.T. will soon dominate him and will get out while the getting is good. He is losing many, many players. He is losing Charlie Strong to either USF or to VIrginia. ALso, his dominance of recruiting in FLorida is going away
now that Eddie G is on the scene. Urban Liar needs to leave while he still has his winning reputation. He can only go downhill from here.
Later ALligator!!!!!
chrisw2967 writes:
Yea I seen Crying Liar on ESPN crying over Tebow and him leaving for the UFL ,it was priceless to watch him cry on TV.I wonder if its because he knows next year Fla will suck ?
lamigravol writes:
When were the first three decades of dominance? UF played football for over 100 years before they even won an SEC title. All of your football traditions started around 1992, including calling your field the swamp. UF will be back to their normal place in two more games. Those who don't know history are bound to repeat it.
OTPVol writes:
That's three decades in pea brain lizard time. Kind of like dog years, but his Momma would have to tell you about that.
armyvol22 writes:
Where did you see this. I would love to read about it.
I think Meyer is gone to ND. He is saying what he is saying because he still has games to play and maybe a championship to play fore. He doesn't want his players worried about him leaving. Every coach would be doing the same.
TommyJack writes:
The Cryer presser was a gagfest of gothic proportion.
cloudodust writes:
It is wise for coaches to leave on their own terms, not the universities. The egos of travelling HC's are that their magic can be worked where others have failed. It's just hard for me to see Notre Dame wanting a guy like Meyer. After all, they have standards...
learnron#236127 writes:
Volpreacher,
I don't think Tenn will have the players to beat Fl. next year. Until is reloading rather than building they will have a tough time with Fl.
gnm53108 writes:
Me and 9 months of Kool-aid drinking beg to differ.
Frost brewed of course.
gnm53108 writes:
DC
FL will be breaking in a new d-coord next year.The backbone of FL's recent run will escape the swamp after this year.
gnm53108 writes:
Agree.
gnm53108 writes:
Not even gonna try...
I'll just go with I disagree.
UTmama writes:
Google his name. Several articles on how he got punched by an irate fan outside a South Bend bar at 2:30am after the loss to UConn. Ended up with a black eye. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!
ctownvol writes:
C.U.M. (haha) starts crying and showing how much of a "kitty cat" he is and the Florida fans like it? Figures.
516milesfromUT writes:
Tebow will be playing fullback in the NFL, How will he be coach?
navarrebeachvol writes:
that cry-fest was minor compared to next year's post-UT press conference...if he's still at FU that is....
516milesfromUT writes:
oh, and Fulmer gets the ND job. he is a proven recruiter of 3* talent nationally.
tdforvols writes:
Keep on drinking that kool-aid... With a win this weekend Kiffin sews up 2nd place in the SEC East. This happens in his first year with below average talent. I believe the "experts" predicted him to finish next to last. He was only a couple plays away from knocking off the Gators and Tide as well. When the talent returns it's going to be hard times indeed for Urban or whomever his replacement might be.
516milesfromUT writes:
oh he will be coach when Urban dangles his bag in 10 years, after winning 2 crystal balls, and 3 SEC titles
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Maybe someday some year the gaters will know what it's like to have an undefeated season. Maybe. Someday.
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
Geeze lil' zzgataboy, do you ever have any new posts? You keep changing your username but you keep posting the same UF drivel over and over and over.
516milesfromUT writes:
its great to see you have all this time to spend on a UT website. You should just ride the TRAIN, you know, like your girly girly does while you are here all the time.gettin trained. just sayin
sleeper7 writes:
It is absurd to infer that C.U.M loves UF. He is a mercenary with zero Florida ties until four years ago. Comparing Fulmer to Kiffin is like comparing Spurrier(a real UF guy) to C.U.M. Rediculous, even for a homer like yourself!
On the other hand, I will acknowledge and concede that his manlove for Teabag appears to be real. Lots of future phallic manipulation for C.U.M as he longs for Timmy after he is gone.
tdforvols writes:
Just pointing out how great a job coach Kiffin has done for a first year coach. SEC East title will belong to the Vols next year. By the way, How many undefeated season's does Fl have? lol - that's what I thought.
Just for the record the Vol's have 11.
ps (it won't happen for the gators again this year either)
punkin writes:
I think I'm about to throw-up.
SaintLouisVol writes:
Forty five comments and not one related to this story. Man, I love this web site!!!
It'll be interested to see how many Gators show up the day after they are stomped into pair of shoes and a matching belt by a crimson elephant.
halloffamebowler writes:
These are nothing but names as of now.They may or may not pan out.Happens at every school.We have had some impressive visitors as well,but they are also nothing but names right now.If and when Kiffin gets a couple more classes ,we will see what happens.You should beat us next year hands down.Our talent and coaching will catch up in a couple of years if we can keep the coaches we have currently or hire the right coaches when some leave.You, and most all fans everywhere,know one team does not stay on top forever.Look at the use to be's that are now has beens.Tennessee,Michigan,Notre Dame,Nebraska,Florida State,Miami,Oklahoma.The list is long and have not been relevent in sometime now.Believe it or not,your day is closer than you think.It may not be Tennessee that replaces you,but someone will.Enjoy while you can.
navarrebeachvol writes:
I wonder if KNS has any plans to run a story about Kentucky this week?
West_TN_VOL77 writes:
Did anyone else see the hit Kiffin put on Crompton during that defensive touchdown at the end of the Vanderbilt game...hilarious.....
BTW, i think DC, GATORZ, BRANTLEEZ peanuts, are really the same pathetic person, who logs in and out just to comment on his original stupid comment
516milesfromUT writes:
watched it over 50 times, funny as H***.
HartfordCTvol writes:
Come talk to us when Tebow has won 3 NFL MVP titles. I'd pit our best quarterback ever as a future coach against Tebow any day. I don't dislike Tebow either. I just dislike the sycophantic media and how they treat him. Every Florida post on here reeks of fear. That's why they're flooding our website. If we were irrelevant they wouldn't be on here. I assure you listentothemusic, dthenc, and jbrantleez are not going on Mississippi State and Vanderbilt’s websites warning them of how bad their coaches are. Get it out of your system guys. Lil Laney, as you call him, can recruit like a madman. And you know it. There’s no doubt in my mind that you know it. Cheers!
Biggie writes:
"It's a classic case of a good person being in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Montmarquet's lawyer, Gregory P. Isaacs.
There's a dufus lawyer for you. She's the one with the dope and other paraphenalia in the car. Good person. huh.
OrangeHammer writes:
Urban keeps preaching the same thing "Monte will retire soon.." Bottom line is he has YEARS left and too much fire in him to stop. Say what u want, but when we can steal players such as Luc, Lemonier, and Elam from your state u won't have anything left. Imagine having to go out of that state to recruit.. Yall have been able to rely on it for too many years! This staff will better prepare kids for the NFL than anyone in the NCAA. Its only a matter of time. Tick... Tock... Tick... Tock...
OTPVol writes:
Yeah well, I predict him and Timmy will be squirting a few crock-o-gator tears in about 11 more days. But look at the money you'll save on plaques!
greyrdr#636541 writes:
To think that Urban Meyer has serious allegiance to UF is laughable. How long has he been there? I dont think he will go to ND, but if the Redskins or Cowboys come a calling with checkbook in hand....
UTmama writes:
Have watched it over and over and it puts me in hysterics everytime! Would love to know how far Crompton sailed! Good to see Kiffin smile and have some fun!
senracjr writes:
So I take it you cry like a baby over Tebow too?
Boooooooo hoooooo hooooooooooo.
orangepridenation writes:
i really wouldn't buy into that. Didn't he say "I will be the coach at Utah", and then he was the head coach at FU like five days later? As for Tebow as his replacement..LMAO! Tebow will be back at florida in 2011 wanting that job once he flunks outta the nfl. Okay that was a little harsh..maybe 2012.
orangepridenation writes:
haha, what a pathetic comment. UT, 9th all time in wins, 2nd in the sec. 2nd most home wins in college football history, 6 national titles, 16 conference titles, 25-20 bowl record, which is 4th most bowl appearences all time and 7th in wins. I don't even know if the gators are on the list for any of those numbers. maybe in a hundred years they will be. face it, we have better fans, better history, better school. and what? you want us to be jealous of FU? LMAO.. go to bed douche. you guys have been good for 15 years, we've been good for a hundred years. so once you go back to the cellar you'll always have that amazing 15 year golden era to look back on. while we continue to add to the great tradition that is UT football. hell, do gator fans even know the meaning of the word tradition? i mean i know you guys have no past. hell i didn't even hear the term "the swam" until like 12 years ago. LMAO, Florida's program is still and always will be Tennessee and Alabama's little brother.
orangepridenation writes:
yea you're right about dc, gatorz, and brantleez. i've noticed that when one of them starts commenting, all three start commenting, and they all stop at the same time. haha..they're all the same dude. how pathetic is that? that's beyond having no life.
TnScooby writes:
You are an idiot!...This has NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ARTICLE!!!!!!...Go post on a Gator SITE!!!!!!
Chomp writes:
Be careful what you wish for!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.