Warrant issued for Gaines after failing to appear in court

By Jacquelyn Nixon

Daily Staff Reporter

A Washtenaw County judge issued a bench warrant for former Michigan basketball guard Kevin Gaines yesterday after he failed to appear for his arraignment on trespassing charges.

If Gaines is stopped by law enforcement, he will be picked up and brought before Judge James Sexsmith.

Men's basketball coach Brian Ellerbe dismissed Gaines, 19, from the team Sept. 5 after his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Gaines was reported to have a 0.17 percent blood-alcohol level when he was arrested for suspicion of disorderly intoxication along with two teammates.

The trio was found wrestling by their parked car alongside Telegraph Road on Sept. 4.

A blood-alcohol level of more than 0.10 is considered legally drunk under Michigan law.

Gaines was charged with disoderly conduct and being a minor in possesion of alcohol, each of which is handled separately in court.

Following his dismissal from the team, Gaines was charged with trespassing after being found rummaging through a backpack in biology Prof. John Kuwada's office.

Assistant Athletic Director of Media Relations Tom Wywrot said Gaines was dismissed from the team for violating team polices.

Although Ellerbe offered Gaines a plan which would allow him to remain at the University and keep his scholarship, Gaines transferred to the University of Houston at the end of the fall semester, Wywrot said.

Officials at the University of Houston were unable to be reached for comment yesterday.

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