FAYETTEVILLE -- A third current or former Arkansas Razorbacks basketball player pleaded guilty Thursday to charges related to passing counterfeit money last summer.
Arkansas junior forward Dustin Thomas, a transfer from Colorado who must redshirt this season, pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain to a misdemeanor charge of possessing an instrument of crime, namely a counterfeit $20 bill, that he knew, or should have known, was fake.
Washington County Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor sentenced Thomas to one year probation and ordered him to pay a $500 fine and assorted court costs. He also was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and remain on good behavior.
"You know how to stay out of trouble," Taylor told Thomas after sentencing. "You need to make good decisions."
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After his plea deal, Thomas has been reinstated to the Razorbacks' team activities. He will be eligible to begin practicing with the team at the conclusion of the fall semester.
Thomas is attending classes but remains suspended from the team pending a resolution to his case. Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson declined comment Thursday on Thomas' status with the team or when he may be reinstated and begin practicing.
"Right now I won't comment on it, but we'll be reaching something here pretty soon," Anderson said.
Anton Beard, Jacorey Williams and Thomas were arrested July 22 for passing counterfeit money at Fayetteville businesses. An arrest report said all three admitted to using the bills July 17-18 but denied knowing they were fake.
"It was a circumstantial case as to their knowledge -- as to whether they knew it was counterfeit. That was the issue going forward," Prosecuting Attorney Matt Durrett said. "You have to prove not only that they were counterfeit, but that they knew the bills were counterfeit."
Beard, a sophomore from North Little Rock, was charged with three counts of first-degree forgery stemming from his arrest for exchanging six counterfeit $50 bills for three legitimate $100 bills at a tobacco store.
Beard entered into a plea deal with prosecutors in November and agreed to enter a drug court diversion program. He was reinstated to the basketball program and has been practicing with the team but has yet to play.
In order for charges to be dismissed, Beard must complete requirements outlined by the diversion court. That process can take nine months to a year, Durrett said. Failure to comply could result in Beard being expelled from the program and having the charges refiled.
Durrett said prosecutors believe Beard was given the counterfeit bills by someone in Little Rock and then gave fake bills to Thomas and Williams. There was no evidence Beard made the bills himself or was involved in making them, Durrett said.
Williams pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of possessing an instrument of crime and received the same sentence as Thomas.
Williams was dismissed from the team in August and transferred to Middle Tennessee, where he is a redshirt this season.
Sports on 12/11/2015