Player charges to be dropped

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002 | 10:34 a.m.

UNLV football coach John Robinson said North Las Vegas police will drop gross misdemeanor charges against two starting Rebel football players who were arrested over the weekend after an altercation at a party.

Wide receiver Troy Mason, tight end DeJhown Mandley and former Rebel cornerback Andre Hilliard were arrested on Saturday for allegedly doing $1,080 in estimated damage to the North Las Vegas home where the party had taken place on Friday night.

During that party, several Rebel football players suffered injuries in a skirmish. Wide receiver Michael Johnson, who received a black eye, a cut and several bruises, was believed to be the most seriously injured.

The next day, a number of individuals returned to the residence wielding baseball bats, which they used to break several windows in the house in apparent retaliation for Friday night's fight.

North Las Vegas Police Lt. Art Redcay said he expected the case to be wrapped up today.

"Basically, the victim is just asking to have restitution," Redcay said. "If that happens and the three individuals agree to that as we've heard they will, the charges will be dropped. It's kind of like when a kid throws a baseball through his neighbor's window. It becomes a civil matter then. You pay for the damage. We hope to have it all wrapped up today sometime."

"Right now I don't know all the facts of what happened," Robinson said. "Two of our coaches are working on it. I really don't want to comment on it until I have all the facts."

But Robinson said that because the charges have been dropped pending restitution for the damage to the house, he doubted that either player would face further disciplinary action.

"No charges are being filed," Robinson said. "If they settle the restitution, I don't see any players being suspended at this time."

Mason and Mandley were honorable mention all-Mountain West Conference picks in 2001. Mason finished second on the team in receptions (19) to Johnson (25) and was second in the MWC in punt returns with a 12.9-yard average on 21 returns. He was 10th in the Mountain West in all-purpose yardage.

Mandley tied for third on the team in receptions with 16 and led UNLV with three touchdown receptions.

Hilliard played cornerback for the Rebels for two years (1998-99) and was a team co-captain with Len Ware in 1999.