INDIANS' SMITH, ROGERS PLEAD GUILTY TO CHARGES

Two Southeast Missouri State University basketball players won't be returning to the team following guilty pleas for forgery and marijuana possession.

Point guard Bobby L. Smith and center Terry J. Rogers will not be allowed to pursue athletics at the school, athletic director Don Kaverman said.

Smith pleaded guilty to felony forgery last week in an agreement with the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor to drop a second charge of misdemeanor credit-card fraud. Rogers pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge in April.

"We don't have a hard and fast policy in regard to misdemeanor crimes, but a felony automatically disqualifies further participation," Kaverman said.

Although Rogers, 21, received 30 days for his misdemeanor crime, athletic officials had reached a decision earlier not to allow the 6-foot-10 senior to continue with the team.

Rogers transferred from Mineral Area College last year and played a backup role with the Indians. He originally was arrested for pushing his wife and spitting in her face and possession of a felony amount of marijuana. However, his wife did not pursue the assault charge, and police could only confirm that Rogers had less than five grams of marijuana.

Smith, 22, admitted to signing the name of another man on a credit application at Plaza Tire Service to purchase $700 worth of tires in March. He also encouraged a girlfriend to use the identity of another woman on a credit application, prosecutor Morley Swingle said.

Smith had transferred to Southeast from Villanova University in Philadelphia, Pa. He sat out the 2000-01 season at Southeast in compliance with NCAA transfer regulations and had two years of eligibility remaining.

Smith was given a suspended sentence by Judge William Syler and put on five years probation. As part of his agreement with the prosecutor, Smith will serve 60 days "shock time" in jail and be required to repay the individuals whose identities he used to make purchases.

He will also attend a financial management class presented by the state office of probation and parole, Swingle said.

Smith's status with the team was clear after he pleaded guilty, Kaverman said.

"We don't have convicted felons representing the university," he said.

On Monday, Smith pleaded guilty to an unrelated misdemeanor assault charge. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, which will be served concurrently with his earlier "shock time" requirement, his attorney Thomas Ludwig said.