U-M football player William Campbell gets 3 months probation for damaging car hood
University of Michigan senior defensive tackle William Campbell must complete three months of probation and pay $2,100 in restitution for drunkenly sliding across the hood of a car in April, ESPN.com reported.
William Campbell
Easthope ruled in June he would sentence Campbell under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which means if Campbell completes probation with no violations, the conviction will be erased from his criminal history.
Campbell admitted in court he was walking across the 600 block of Church Street, an area where many student bars are located, to get to Pizza House. He slid across the hood of a 2003 Lincoln Town Car and caused enough damage to the hood that a nearby Ann Arbor police officer could hear the sheet metal buckle.
He was arraigned on a felony charge of malicious destruction of property worth more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 and a misdemeanor charge of destruction of property worth more than $200 but less than $1,000. Prosecutors dropped the felony charge in exchange for his guilty plea to the misdemeanor.
A call to Campbell’s lawyer, Donald Payne, was not immediately returned Friday.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
FormerMichRes
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
Noticed a lot of commenters getting down on Coach Hoke. Don't you think he's troubled by this activity as well? He's between a rock and a hard place. He's tasked with having a winning football team, but the best players available tend to be from the inner city and have a lot of cultural baggage and bad habits, not to mention that they are typically not much interested in school. Some of these guys need a babysitter 24/7.
UofMbeBetter
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 4:40 p.m.
"inner city: A term used in the United States referring to a place in a large city that is mostly populated by poor minorities. It has nothing to do with the actual inner part of a city" "Inner City: the term is often a euphemism – an increasingly inaccurate one – applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas. In the United States, the term has the additional connotation of impoverished Black and/or Hispanic neighborhoods" "A euphemism is a generally harmless word, name, or phrase that replaces an offensive or suggestive one"
UofMbeBetter
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
Oooooh Geeeze "and have a lot of cultural baggage". Are you referring to Williams Blackness as his cultural Baggage? To what Culture are you referring? So you are saying that because of Williams Cultural Baggage that he couldn't help himself, and that anybody with a nice car better beware bringing it around a certain cultural people lest it be destroyed?
UofMbeBetter
Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 5:16 p.m.
good thing Brady never even slapped his hand. The old coaches way of No discipline for starting players, save that for your 3rd stringers.
Hailmary
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
In 1969 as a 19 year old I worked at a gas station in Ann Arbor. At that time a football player for the University of Michigan worked part time with me nights. I became friends with him and we talked a lot of football. A couple of times this man took me to fraternity parties where a lot of the UM football players lived and I regret to say the drinking of alcohol at those parties was wild to say the least. You all might remember that 69 team that took down the great ohio state team and Woody Hayes. At that time I thought it was all great and I loved being around that great team. As I look back on it I see it all in a different lite. Apparently that same behavior still goes on to this day but unlike back then things now are not so easily swept under the carpet. Brady has a real challenge ahead of him getting this alcoholic behavior under control and I wish Brady the best.
Frustrated in A2
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
I'm not a um football fan but I think his punishment was fair. He's paying for the damage and he's on probation. A non-football player would've gotten the same punishment and it's that kind of equality that I can respect.
rightmind250
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
Dean Wermer, "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son".
nickcarraweigh
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
I take it the actual owner of the car wasn't consulted?
RWBill
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 1:46 p.m.
Why would you take that?
Jimmy McNulty
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 11:50 a.m.
OK, move on. Restitution and probation are fair. Remove the "football player" tag from the situation and no one would even care about such a minor incident. I wish him well.
Stuart Brown
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 4:18 a.m.
Why is this even a crime? It looks more like negligence to me; it should have been purely a civil matter. I suspect race has a role in the harshness of the legal system's response to this incident.
RWBill
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.
"Negligence" IS an element of many crimes, but this was not negligence, it was an intentional act. I don't expect the hood of the car buckled because of the color of the large butt landing on it, but because it was 320 pounds of butt. It certainly shouldn't be a felony, but fell into that category because of ancient dollar levels still in the laws that should be changed to reflect 21st century property values.
a2citizen
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 5:07 a.m.
Out of all the transgressions I think this is the one that is a "youthful indiscretion". That being said, I am certain from your post that it was not your car.
whatsupwithMI
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 4:39 a.m.
$ amount of damage matters in the charge. In Michigan, a "felony" is a kind of a type of grade inflation, btw (so hey this athlete is succeeding!). What is "misdemeanor" in most states is "Felony Grade X" here. For whatever reason.
whatsupwithMI
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 4:14 a.m.
Sounds just like the total $ amount of damage done to a police car in Ypsi.
Proche79
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 3:18 a.m.
Kids will be kids. How quick we forget and how quick we are to judge. Mistakes are going to be made on all levels. I don't thinks it's fair to crucify a kid who made a small mistake. Learn from it move on and teach the younger kids to not make your mistakes. It's about leadership and accountability for your actions. He messed up he has been punished by the legal system and I'm sure by his coach. So it's double jeopardy. As a football player he gets it worse than you or I. Let it be.
T Wall
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 1:39 a.m.
You removed my comment because you said I violated Ann Arbor.Com conversation guidelines. I am so tired of hearing about all these athletes, both professional and collegiate getting charged with drunken driving. I would like to offer the services of our driving school to the U of M Athletic Department so that we might give a brief presentation to each group about the dangers and negative effects of driving while impaired. I believe our Driver Education School does an excellent job of teaching young drivers not to drink and drive. After taking the course the new drivers realize that their mom's and dad's love them more then anyone on earth and would be willing to give their life for them. They don't want to hurt the people who have done so much for them in their lives so they make better decisions. A lot of wet eyes are present when Tony, who lost his son to a drunk driver, talks to the students. Our Driver Education School will talk to all the U of M Athletes at no charge because drinking and driving has no place on the road. Please do not remove this comment because it could saves some lives. We are willing to donate our time so I hope you can do the same. Thank you, Tom Wall
Scott
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 11:49 p.m.
No one wants the hammer to come down more on 'criminal" players but i don't see this as malicious. He was drunk (not good) but he wasn't driving. As for flopping on the car- those who remember drinking too much as students know this could have happened to them. He just weighs 320 lbs. and things give way. Don't thin he deserves suspension from the team. Throw Clark off the team and suspend Touissant for a year (or throw him off the team). It's apples and oranges.
whatsupwithMI
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 4:17 a.m.
That 14-yr just threw herself upon him, what could he do! is the next thing we'll here. There are 10's of thousands of athletes who manage to have college careers without this type of behavior. Lets call the behavior what it is, give it a penalty, and the rest is up to the 320-lb punk kid as to whether this is a sign of things to come, or a one-off.
7718
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 2:28 a.m.
Not malicious, but very stupid on his part. I bet Dave Brandon is worried that his Michigan brand is being tarnished by these players'foolish (and criminal) behavior.
RJA
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.
Wow, a lucky jock! Brady does need to lower the hammer! (make it a sledge hammer)
Billy Bob Schwartz
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 11:14 p.m.
A dumb move by Mr. Campbell. You have a second chance here, and I really hope you take advantage of it and make it a one-time stupidity in your life. Good luck. Go Blue!
stevek
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 10:29 p.m.
I am just glad that the penalty wasn't so severe as to keep him from playing football for U-M. Everybody should be more concerned with U-M's win/loss record than his criminal behavior or future.
RWBill
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
what do you think the sentence would have been for a student, not a student-athlete? same sentence.
Scott
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 11:50 p.m.
I'd call it stupid drunk behavior, not malicious criminal behavior. Big difference. Stealing a computer and running a red light are criminal acts.
Howard the Duck
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 10:56 p.m.
The true nature of the wolverine...exposed!
SEC Fan
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 10 p.m.
Guess Hoke can name him Team Captain now. After all, he's done a good job leading the 8 criminals so far this year. Wonder who's paying the fine for him? and the lawyer bills...
whatsupwithMI
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 4:20 a.m.
At this time, since its a Michigan school, Michigan taxpayers and U of M game attendees are paying.
garrisondyer
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 1:57 a.m.
Nah, I'm guessing he's in the dog house. Lighten up, SEC. You're constantly nagging the UM football team...
Scott
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 11:52 p.m.
He has plenty of cash. SEC schools were sending him checks during his high school days.
greg, too
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 9:53 p.m.
Too bad there isn't any video of him Duke of Hazzarding across the Town Car.
xmo
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
This Spartan team is full drunks and criminals, Thank Goodness my school does it the Michigan way!
azwolverine
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 10:44 p.m.
By 'criminals' do you mean a large contingent of players storming a party like a gang and beating innocent people up?
Homeland Conspiracy
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 8:39 p.m.
Another drunken jock let off with a slap on the wrist
OLDTIMER3
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
If it were a kid in a highschool sports program he would have been banned from sports.
Scott
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
Nah. Any kid would have gotten the same. Zero maliciousness in this incident and he wasn't driving drunk. Man people lose perspective.
azwolverine
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 10:41 p.m.
Just like any other student would have gotten in the same situation.
Are you serious?
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 8:57 p.m.
Exactly the same plea agreement you would have received for a first offense - assuming that it was, and that you have no other offenses. HYTA is approved for almost any individual that is eligible.
Hailmary
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 8:31 p.m.
Brady needs to realize that there is a drinking problem with his team.
MRunner73
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.
Yes, there is a lot in common with Stonum, Big Will and now Toussaint. Am I missing anybody?
Hailmary
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 8:29 p.m.
Like I said, it's time for Brady to, "lower t he hammer".
kmgeb2000
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
Another free pass for a UM football player.
OLDTIMER3
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
@Scott, I don't think a senior at MI qualifies as a KID anymore. Maybe a bad drinker but not a kid.
RWBill
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 1:38 p.m.
did you not read the article?
Scott
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
I think it was more a "lay down" on someones car- rather than jump on someones car. Just a stupid dumb think not at all criminal. most kids would have just had to pay for it- no parole. It's not like he ran from the cop or resisted in any way.
hail2thevict0r
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 8:55 p.m.
Yeah, because if someone else had jumped on the hood of someone's car they would have been sent to jail for 100 years....