Aug. 24, 2005
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports




LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech starting safety Vincent Meeks could face up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine after he allegedly violated his probation on a forgery charge.

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Meeks' legal entanglement will not keep him from playing for the Red Raiders, Tech coach Mike Leach said.

"Vincent made some bad decisions on his part and was also a victim of some bad circumstances created by other people," Leach said in Wednesday's editions of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. "Team-wise, he's fine."

Meeks, a senior, has made 27 career starts since he cracked the lineup in the ninth game of his freshman season.

He is accused of violating terms of his three-year probation on a charge of forgery of a financial instrument, Rockwall County District Attorney Ray Sumrow said Wednesday. Meeks failed to report to a probation officer for several months, didn't pay court costs and failed to complete community service and other programs, Sumrow said.

Meeks was accused of trying to cash a $475 illegal computer-generated check in 2003 that was made out to him, Sumrow said. He pleaded guilty but was not convicted because the court gave him deferred adjudication, Sumrow said. If he had completed his probation without any incidents, the charge would have been removed from his record.

Meeks surrendered himself Tuesday on an arrest warrant issued Aug. 9 and was arraigned and arrested on the same forgery charge. He was released from the Rockwall County Jail late Tuesday after posting $10,000 bond.

If the court revokes his probation at a hearing not yet scheduled, Meeks could be sentenced to two years in jail and fined $10,000, Sumrow said. The judge also could sentence him to probation.

"I believe that Vincent will live his probation out if he's allowed to do that," said Meeks' attorney, Patrick Short. "If given the opportunity, I believe he will comply."

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