Tech running back McKenzie and second student charged after incident with minors
He has been suspended indefinitely by Frank Beamer as of March 3rd.
Virginia Tech freshman running back Shai McKenzie has been charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to a Christiansburg Police spokeswoman.
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a class 1 misdemeanor and carries with it a potential jail sentence of 12 months and a fine up to $2,500.
According to Virginia Tech athletic department policy, a felony charge triggers an immediate suspension from the team.
Warrants filed in Montgomery County Court last week detail that McKenzie, 19, and Devin A. Gavion, 18, a fellow Virginia Tech student, were being investigated for carnal knowledge of a child between the ages of 13 and 15.
And it sounds like the investigators caught them red handed. Investigation has found it happened between Feb 11th and 15th. 4 condoms were found in the residence by investigators.
Shai was a participant in workouts on Tuesday.
Comments
WTH!!! This not good.
I don't expect to see him playing again.
Well that's one way to thin out the RB depth chart. Where do you run across underage girls in college?
Seriously. There's no shortage of 18 year olds who are more than, uh, accommodating.
Especially here at VT... Goodness. (from a student)
Really. We may not be Southern Cal, but the phrase "cup runneth over" has definitely crossed my mind on more than one occasion.
More like what happened to his friend on the lacrosse team?!
Well looks like he's redshirting whether he likes it or not. Hopefully he straightens out and doesn't act like an idiot again....
If he fucked a 14 year old girl that isn't acting like an idiot. Being drunk in public is acting like an idiot. This is seriously messed up shit and if true I hope he never puts on the uniform again
I agree not trying to downplay what he did at all! This was a heinous malicious violation and crime. I hope he is dismissed swiftly. I should have clarified that in the post. Using social apps to hook up with people is idiotic, but what he did went WAY beyond that. Thanks for pointing that out.
If these girls were under 15, it is not contributing to the delinquency, it will be carnal knowledge of a child 13 to 15. This is a felony and violent sex offense, that with evidence, is almost impossible to defend. Sucks, because he had a lot of potential, but he's also 2 ACL's deep. We have RB's that can carry the rock that are healthy and dont have accusations of a sex offense.
The other one got charged with both, Shai only with CDM, indicating he only had sex with the 15 year old. Still.
15 year old is still what... Freshman in high school? Unacceptable for any collegiate student, but for a starting football player at a Division 1 school? Unfathomably stupid.
If this is true, adios. We're better off without him.
No doubt, just pointing out that he'll likely escape a felony conviction.
Got you, I thought 15 was still a felony and I guess there could be more charges coming. Still not good..
Accurate.
Two things:
1) The charges did not automatically trigger a suspension. He was charged with misdemeanors. Tech chose to suspend him indefinitely regardless.
2) He was at workouts even as of Tuesday afternoon. He maxed out on the bench. I'd imagine his suspension was handed down that evening.
Good catch, I misread on both. Amended the post for accuracy.
Should anything be inferred by the fact that he is suspended from the team, and not dismissed?
I would assume at this point it is pending further legal action, so no.
Were I a betting man, I'd be all in on Shai never suiting up for us ever again.
I would infer that Whit & Frank were being prudent. I would think that the suspension becomes official when the guilty verdict is delivered, should that occur. If the verdict becomes not guilty, then there would be a slight chance for reinstatement. I would think, though, that the stupidity of being in position to be charged with that particular crime is enough to make it apparent McKenzie will not be back on the team.