SOUTHEAST BASKETBALL RECRUIT CHARGED WITH FORGERY, FRAUD

Charges of forgery and credit fraud were filed Wednesday against a Southeast Missouri State University basketball recruit, the second player to be accused of crimes in a week.

The latest, Bobby L. Smith, 22, arrived with his attorney about 2 p.m. Wednesday to turn himself in at the Cape Girardeau County Jail in Jackson, Mo.

Smith, a junior transfer student from Villanova University in Philadelphia, Pa., is charged with felony forgery and a misdemeanor attempt of credit fraud for allegedly using stolen identification information from two individuals to buy tires. The forgery charge is punishable by a maximum of seven years in prison.

Smith's teammate, Terry Rogers, will appear on unrelated charges before Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp on Monday with an attorney from the public defender's office. Rogers is charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and felony domestic assault.

Smith purchased four new tires worth $700 for his car on March 5 after filling out a false credit application at Plaza Tire, Cape Girardeau police detective Bill Bohnert said in a probable-cause affidavit. Smith also encouraged his girlfriend to complete a false credit application using another woman's identity, Bohnert stated.

The basketball player was identified by a Plaza Tire employee who looked through a photo lineup provided by police. Smith's girlfriend told police she had witnessed Smith complete a false application, police said.

The 22-year-old Southeast Missouri State student whose identity Smith allegedly used said he never met the basketball player. The student believes his date of birth, Social Security number and other personal information were taken from letters in his mailbox.

A phone call from JCPenney about charges totaling over $1,300 in his name was the first signal that his identity was being used, the student said. He said he couldn't remember the last time he shopped at the store.

Another call from Plaza Tire informed him that his car was ready. "I don't even have a car here," the student said.

As Smith waited with attorney Tom Ludwig to be taken into custody, he sat silently except for a response to a basketball question from Ludwig.

Smith was released from jail Wednesday evening after posting a $10,000 bond.

Smith will appear in court today before Kamp. He appeared before Kamp in October when he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic assault. Smith was placed on two years of probation for the assault.

Smith's methods for allegedly acquiring personal information from two individuals is still under investigation, said Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County prosecutor.