Former University of Michigan football player sentenced to 19 months to 15 years in prison
A former University of Michigan cornerback convicted in June of committing three thefts and an attempted robbery was sentenced today to a minimum of 19 months in prison.
Boubacar Cissoko, 22, who was kicked off the team in October, pleaded guilty June 23 to assault with intent to rob while unarmed and three counts of larceny from a person, court records show.
Boubacar Cissoko
Cissoko told Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Archie Brown today he's been through some tough times, but it's no excuse.
"I am very truly sorry for my actions," Cissoko said. "I take full responsibility for my actions."
Cissoko, who appeared at his sentencing in an orange jail jumpsuit with his hands and feet shackled, said all he wanted to do was play football.
"I still have got hope and love for the game," he said.
In pleading guilty in June, Cissoko admitted to stealing money from two food deliverymen in Ann Arbor and grabbing money from a cab driver in Ypsilanti on March 13.
He also admitted to pointing a pellet gun at a cab driver and attempting to rob him in Ann Arbor on April 18, court records show.
Brown sentenced Cissoko to a minimum of 19 months and maximum of 15 years in prison, with credit for 107 days for time served. Brown said he had no objection to Cissoko being placed in a prison boot camp.
"The issue for you is what you make of your life now," Brown said.
Cissoko, a 2007 graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit, was dismissed from Michigan’s team after violating unspecified team rules twice in 2009.
He started the first four games as a sophomore during the 2009 season, then missed two games because of his first suspension for violating the rules.
Cissoko saw limited action against Penn State before being kicked off the team.
His grandmother, Victoria Willis of Detroit, who attended the hearing, said "obviously, we're all very upset about it."
"It's so hard to hear him say his regrets in the courtroom," she said. "Hopefully, we can all look forward to better things from him from this point on. This is just not him."
Cissoko's brother-in-law, Mike Willis, 30, of Southfield, said after the sentencing that he was surprised at Cissoko's actions and disappointed.
"Hopefully, he learned a lesson and hopefully things will work out for the best," he said.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
M-Fan
Fri, Aug 6, 2010 : 5:42 p.m.
This kid gets 10 months to 15 years while the "county employee" who made off with close to 100,000 doesn't get time at all.
Matt Cooper
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 : 10:40 a.m.
Funny how people from other schools refuse to see the tragedy in this story because they're too busy trying to make it an "us versus them" situation. Listen, it's not like MSU doesn't have it's share of criminals on their roster, or at the very least enrolled for classes. And it's not like Ohio State doens't have a few felons on theirs, either. You aren't any better than any one else (Need I say the names Clarett? Schleister?). The bottom line is that for whatever reasons, this young man is now going to prison because he made some horrible decisions, and is possibly throwing away what could have been a great professional football career. I hope Cissoko can get himself together and make something positive come from this. Have a little compassion for the kid. It's not like none of us are free of sin ourselves, you know.
Yelmonian
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 : 10:20 a.m.
Hailtoasquared... Agreed... the kid is kicked off, that was sort of a shot at RR and the wide receiver that violated probation, spent three days in jail, and RR said there would be no further punishment. Isn't it a privilige to play for UM football? Or is drunk driving and violating the probation for drunk driving acceptable? And I really am not trying to be "holier than thou". I am just sick and tired of hearing from certain individuals that other schools players are criminals, and that RR's players are angels. I called out what I see. And mind you... all of MSU's players were punished. All but 2 were left home from the bowl game, the two that weren't left home (because they were discovered to be involved later)... are no longer on the team. Over half the players are no longer on the MSU team. The others have all been given the warning that there are no more second chances. That was for a fist fight (not weapons, not guns, etc). A bunch of stupid young men, fighting over girls. Was it wrong, Yes... but I'm not sure how you can play that as worse than drunk driving by a foolish young man. Point being... every team has their issues. Certain individuals should not be throwing potatos at other peoples houses.
Ted Bundy
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 : 9:11 a.m.
OSUbebetter- You are quick to point out some former UM football players legal problems and joke that "RR would let him back on team after he got out of prison" but do you know that Maurice Clarett just re-enrolled at OSU and is taking classes since he got out of prison? Young kids do some stupid things and their respective football program cant really stop them. I applaud RR for kicking this guy off the team. Its too bad though.
OSUbeBetter
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 : 3:41 a.m.
Haha Kubrick66, I misread what you wrote, I thought you wanted to know about irreLevance.
Kubrick66
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 : 1:12 a.m.
OSUisBetter writes... " I looked up the term "irreverence" in the dictionary, it just had a picture of a big blue Block "M" and a plus sign next to a Football and a basketball, so im not quite sure what that means." And obviously he still doesn't understand what the word means.
HailToASquared
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 : 12:46 a.m.
" Yelmonian Posted 7 hours ago RR was heard to be muttering in the back of the courtroom... when you are done serving your time, come on back, as you will have served your punishment." actually, that would be way closer to something that happened in east lansing.. rodriguez got rid of the problem before it became a disaster. what he's going to jail for is what he did after being kicked off the team.
JadedBlackDepth
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 : 12:24 a.m.
people, Cissoko did much wrong, but stop the school crap. Seriously, the biggest problem with these athletes is that they are athletes. I went to MSU, a good friend of mine was campus security at UM. In my years in college, there were always young men fighting over girls or some other dumb thing that as you mature you stop fighting over. Athletes at both schools have done pot and drank. THEY ARE IN COLLEGE. They also got in shoving matches and fights, and the dark secret is, the good coaches(Bo, Carr, Perles) do a good job at covering for it. You are VERY naive if you do not think there have not been all out brawls in hotels in Ann Arbor that involve UM athletes. But the one my friend was called to was silenced by Carr because he has good contacts in college and with local law. Perles and Bo had same. But, when the incident can not be covered, the athletes are made examples of. The punishments are harder. It was leaked that a great UM receiver failed team drug tests. But it was covered. Sure the same happens at MSU and OSU. So for you slappies like Tater, or from any other school, stop it, your school has the same college kids making the same mistake. Just your college had a program set up to cover it better and keep it quiet.
wvtroll
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 10:21 p.m.
I think the whole country is going to pot. Where is the parental guidance of all these players? (No, I'm not trying to start a "which school has the best parents argument!!) It's all unfortunate, and the bad thing is that you all are quibbling over which team has the worst convicts. All school coaches get a twinge of compassion and allow a student to continue at one point. That's a good thing sometimes. Sometimes it's a bad judgment call. RR has done it before (Pacman and Henry) as well as all the others, I'm sure. The point should be why is there so much of this crap happening to these young men in the first place, no matter where it's happening.
Chuck
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 8:58 p.m.
^5 to EyeHeartA2! He either gets it right this time or he doesn't. most men wouldn't have done anything to jeopardize a scholarship.
raddesc
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 8:58 p.m.
Amazing OSU...Every program has "troubled" student-athletes and yet you come on this site and play "cheerleader" pretending OSU flies under the radar of these problems. Who again was the OSU recruit who was shot (his 2nd time mind you) while walking home with a 17 year old girl? Oh yeah, wasn't that girl killed in the shooting? Didn't he put a 4 year old in harm's way in that shooting? Also, who was the OSU recruit, who a year ago, was arrested under a marijuana charge? Is he still plating football at OSU? Did he get punished by Tressel? I could go on....but what's the point? Those questions are irrelevant and insensitive and do not change the fact that some individuals make terrible decisions and have to pay the price for their mistakes. This applies to Cissoko right now. By the way, what were your feelings on Clarrett--does he deserve to be back at OSU? Probably can't answer that one, huh? If you answer yes, then your comments on this board just showed how hypocritical, delusional, and just plain ridiculous you and OSU fans can be. And if you answer no, well, you just turned against your "problematic" star running back on your NC team. Amazing OSU, even Tressel believes in rehabilitation and 2nd chances for student-athletes who are misguided and make mistakes---even Spielman on 97.1 declares himself to be a 2nd chance guy (you did see the Spielman/C. Carter converstion, right? I'm sure you made them proud today with your "Whatever happened to...." comments. Go Blue!
KeepingItReal
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.
There is absolutely nothing that has happen to this young man that can or will prevent him from becoming a productive member of society. He obviously has some issues that need to be worked through and if those issues are addressed while he is incarcerated and after his return to the community, he will be just fine. I hope this case is one that current and future young African American male athletes are paying special attention to because it only shows that you are venerable to many things and an expendable commodity.
Jarhead
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 7:50 p.m.
Now we're gonna point out every kid that drinks? Please! Remember when you were 18, 19, 20? All these players at all these universities, train hard, work hard, and party hard. And no university, (even women's colleges), are immune. Don't try to tell me your school is above reproach. But we'll have this big pissin' match to prove our school has less violators than your school. Rediculous! I wonder if the engineering students or the med students ever tip a few too many? 'Course who would care?
Jarhead
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 7:19 p.m.
Osubebetter The person who torched the dorm was a student, JTBurke. Justin Feagin was a slot reciever who brokered a deal for Burke with his cousin in Florida. As soon as RR found out, he dismissed Feagin from the team. The hockey player was Steve Kempfer and the football player,(who was a wrestler then walked on to the football team), was Mike Milano. He too was dismissed from the team. Feagin was not prosecuted as drugs never passed through hands, never delivered. I don't know what ever happened to Milano.
OSUbeBetter
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 7:14 p.m.
Tater - Are you referring to Kivin Grady? The guy who was pulled over in his brand new Yukon Denali while Drunk more than three times the legal limit? so drunk the judge deemed him "unable to render an intelligent or knowing acknowledgment of the charges"? Then decided not to do his community service and was put in jail? then got a ticket in Ann arbor and decided not to pay the fine leading to his license being revoked? Then was still a part of the football team? I forgot about that guy. dakabk - I looked up the term "irreverence" in the dictionary, it just had a picture of a big blue Block "M" and a plus sign next to a Football and a basketball, so im not quite sure what that means.
Yelmonian
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 6:06 p.m.
Kubrick.... You are correct. We don't know how the boundary between innoncent banter about the programs, and irreverence. Very simple. Please explain this to the individuals that read AA.com that have allegiances to other schools. Once this is explained, then we hope individuals such as Tater learn from your description. Tater... While you may find drunk driving acceptable, and just a harmless crime. The thousands of people that are injured or die annually from drunk driving offenses probably do not take lightly that crime. Many might actually believe a fist fight between individuals is less dangerous than one drunk driver heading down a major highway. Obviously, in your blindness (aka loyalty) to the UM football program, you are willing to overlook drunk driving offenses, the repeat offenses, and probation violations that occur within the UM program... and instead attack other schools in a meek attempt to make your favored program look better, by trying to make other programs look worse. I would hope that you would actually condemn UMs football and athletic department, as much as you do other programs, as there is a history of letting repeat drunk drivers back on the team, even after not following through with their probation requirements. If that is too difficult to do, then maybe you ought to stick to... our QB is better than your QB.
rulieg
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 6:03 p.m.
"this is just not him," said his grandmother? wow. how many robberies will this kid have to commit before his family understands he's got a problem? refusing to see difficult truths does nobody any good. I hope he's able to turn it around, but it doesn't sound like he'll be getting any help from his granny.
dakabk
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 5:54 p.m.
Kubrick66 - "Some people that post comments - in this case OSUbeBetter - don't seem to understand the difference between harmless rivalry banter and irreverence... Because from any perspective this case should read as nothing short of tragic." Well said although I bet OSUbeBetter is reaching for the dictionary to look up "irreverence" right about now.
Kubrick66
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 5:42 p.m.
Some people that post comments - in this case OSUbeBetter - don't seem to understand the difference between harmless rivalry banter and irreverence... Because from any perspective this case should read as nothing short of tragic.
keetmalik
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 5:23 p.m.
Too bad the kid made a few dumb choices,I wish him luck.GOBLUE!!!!!!!!
OSUbeBetter
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 4:48 p.m.
What ever happened to that michigan QB guy who tried to Arson a student dorm over the bad Cocaine deal? Is that guy in prison now? What ever happened to that Michigan Football guy who spiked a Michigan hockey guy head first onto the sidewalk? Is that guy in prison now?
Yelmonian
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 4:32 p.m.
RR was heard to be muttering in the back of the courtroom... when you are done serving your time, come on back, as you will have served your punishment.
chapmaja
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 : 3:45 p.m.
This is a make or break point for this young man. Hopefully he can get his life back together while in prison or the prison boot camp, can come back to school and get an education and make something of his life. I have talked to a couple people I know from Cass Tech and they said he was not like this during high school and that maybe Michigan wasn't the best choice of schools for him to go to. They feel maybe he mentally wasn't ready to go to a big school (enrollment wise) where there are potential problems around every bend. I don't think he would be able to return to NCAA college football after his prison sentence is up, he might be able to go to a small NAIA school and play football while finishing his education. Th NCAA and NAIA rules are drastically different regarding eligibility. If he truely loves football, it is an option for him once he fulfills this obligation he created for himself. I'm sure there are plenty of NAIA schools that would be willing to take on a project like this. His talent is enough that he could end up making it as a poor football player, if he removes his head from where it was the last year he was at Michigan. A pro caliber talent is pretty rare for a NAIA school, thus the reason he might be able to find a spot at one.