http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071025/SPORTS/710250316/1002/NEWS05

Published: Thursday, October 25, 2007
University of Vermont men's hockey player Jonathan Higgins appeared in Vermont District Court in Burlington on Tuesday to enter a plea of not guilty to taking a bicycle without the owner's consent.

According to court documents, police officers observed several young men in pursuit of two people in downtown Burlington early Monday morning. The pursuers were shouting, "they stole my bike," according to an affidavit prepared by Burlington police officer David Clements.

Clements stated he pursued one subject he identified in the affidavit as Higgins. The officer said Higgins was ordered to the ground but did not comply, so he was taken to the ground and placed into custody.

The affidavit stated that the 21-year-old Higgins was intoxicated and that he said he was not trying to evade police but was trying to evade the pursuers, stating he was concerned for his safety.

Higgins was subsequently issued a citation to appear in court and sent to detox at Act 1, the affidavit stated.

In District Court in front of Judge Linda Levitt, Higgins entered a not guilty plea on one count of "buy, receive, sell, possess, conceal stolen property $100 or less." Higgins was released on conditions. He is represented by Richard Goldsborough.

Chris Wojcik, an assistant director for UVM athletic communications, said the university was collecting information to determine whether Higgins, a sophomore forward from North Stratham, N.H., had violated the school's student-athlete code of conduct. Higgins is practicing with the team while the university investigates.

Higgins, a former player for the Green Mountain Glades junior hockey team, has one goal in three games this year. As a freshman, he played in nine games, scoring one goal.