Meanwhile, five current or former players - including Cade McNown - who were charged Monday and scheduled for arraignment Tuesday were granted continuances until Sept. 30.
McNown's attorney, Ronald Safer, refused to say how his client would plead, but said the Chicago Bears rookie quarterback was "deeply troubled" by the charge, and was legitimately entitled to the handicapped placard when he used it briefly nearly three years ago.
"You'll have to come Sept. 30 to see how he pleads," Safer said outside Los Angeles Municipal Court.
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| AP PHOTO Former UCLA quarterback Cade McNown was the latest Bruin to be charged in the handicapped parking scandal that has rocked the team this season. |
As was the case with nine other defendants who entered the same plea July 28, they were ordered to pay to pay $1,485 in fines and perform 200 hours of community service.
The athletes also must spend a day meeting with the disabled and their advocates.
Deputy city attorney Brian Williams said he expected James Ghezzi and Durell Price to enter similar pleas later in the day.
The case of Craig Walendy, another player whose UCLA career finished last year, was continued until Sept. 30, but Williams said that was because his attorney was unavailable, and added he expected Walendy to also plead no contest.
The city attorney's office has brought charges against a total of 19 current or former Bruins alleged to be part of the disabled parking scam.
Ten, including Price and Ghezzi, are members of the current team and were suspended for the season's first two games. The 10 will return Saturday night against Fresno State, with six in the starting lineup.
Charged Monday along with McNown, were running back Skip Hicks of the Washington Redskins, safety Larry Atkins of the Kansas City Chiefs, former linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, and defensive back Eric Whitfield, a member of the current team who served the two-game suspension.
All were said to have illegally obtained the handicapped parking placards in 1996 and 1997.
Safer said he didn't believe there was any evidence McNown ever parked in a handicapped spot.
"He completed the application on Jan. 4, he was injured," Safer said. "He received the placard sometime later. He does not recall using a handicapped spot."
Asked if McNown used a doctor's name on the form, Safer said, "He did not complete that part of the form. That portion of the form was completed, but not by him."
Safer wouldn't elaborate.
"He was 19 years old when he did it," Safer said. "He used the placard only a handful of times. When he recovered from his injury, he put the placard away forever.
"This is somebody who has not been near any kind of trouble in his life. He has lived an exemplary life."
Now 22, McNown was a first-round draft choice of the Bears last April.
Bruins Change QBs: Cory Paus, who split playing time with Drew Bennett in UCLA's first two games this season, will be the Bruins' starting quarterback.
UCLA coach Bob Toledo said last month he would alternate the two for at least two games before naming a permanent starter.
He was true to his word.
"We feel at this time that it's best for us to go with Cory Paus," Toledo said Monday. "Cory will be the starting quarterback for now. He's throwing the ball the best, that's the crux of the thing.
Paus, a redshirt freshman who has completed 20 of 38 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions, will make his first start Saturday night against Fresno State at the Rose Bowl in the No. 21 Bruins' final non-conference game.
Starters Back: The four returnees who will start on defense are linebackers Tony White, Robert Thomas and Ryan Nece, and strong safety Ryan Roques. Returning as first-stringers on offense are fullback Durell Price and guard Oscar Cabrera.
Also returning are linebacker Ali Abdul Azziz, safety Eric Whitfield, offensive guard James Ghezzi and tailback Keith Brown.
Cornerback Marques Anderson, also suspended for the first two games, was suspended from school for the fall quarter as well for other university-related incidents.
"There's a big sense of relief," Roques said concerning his return. "I think there will be a bigger sense of relief when we actually play in a game."
The senior said he believes he's learned his lesson.
"Of course, I feel some regret for ever doing it, for ever using the placards," he said. "I don't think I'll ever try to take a short cut in anything again."
09-15-99
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