The Columbus Dispatch and the Franklin County Clerk of Municipal Court’s Website are both reporting that third string QB Antonio Henton was arrested and charged last night for solicting prostitution from undercover police officer Bonnie Wagner at the corner of North High and Sixth Avenue.  His appearance was set for 9:30 a.m. this morning in courtroom 4D, which means that he spent the night in custody. 

The Case Numbers are 2007 CR B 024337 and 2007 CR B 024359.  There are two cases because apparently, the officer forgot to sign the complaint ticket and was unavailable to come back in to sign it, so another complaint ticket was issued.  A notation on the clerk’s website under the Dockets section of Case No. 2007 CR B 024337 states as follows:

“2ND SHIFT PASSED OFF THE COMPLAINT TO 3RD SHIFT INFORMING US IT WAS NOT SIGNED BY THE OFFICER. 3RD SHIFT CONTACTED CPD RECS TO ASK TO HAVE THE OFFICER COME BACK IN AND SIGN THE COMPLAINT. THE TECH INFORMED US THE OFFICER WAS NO LONGER ON DUTY. THE TECH WOULD FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.”

The first case, 2007 CR B 024337 was then dismissed and closed.  But the second case, 2007 CR B 024359 is pending.  Henton has plead not guilty to the charges, and has not waived time (meaning that he, thusfar, intends to exercise his right to a speedy trial).  His attorney is listed as Tasha Ruth, who appears to be with the Public Defender’s office since the court’s docket indicates that there was an indigent application fee.

It is unclear from the Franklin County Municipal Court’s website what exact section Henton was charged under, but the case is City of Columbus v. Henton, rather than State of Ohio v. Henton.  Columbus City Code Section 2307.24 reads as follows:

2307.24 Soliciting.

(A) No person shall solicit another to engage with such other person in sexual activity for hire.
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of soliciting, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(c) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section or an attempt to commit a violation of this section and if the person in committing or attempting to commit the violation, was in, was on, or used a motor vehicle, the court, in addition to or independent of all other penalties imposed for the violation, shall impose upon the offender a class six suspension of the person’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(6) of Section 4510.02 of the Ohio Revised Code. (ORC 2907.24) (Ord. 2535-94; Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part).)

The maximum penalty for a first degree misdemeanor is six months in jail and a $1,000.00 fine.  However, first offenders with no other criminal record generally get a fine and probation. 

It is important to note that a great many innocent people are charged with crimes, so we need to let the process play out before coming to any conclusions about what happened last night. 

But don’t look to see Henton travel to Minnesota this weekend, and you can expect to see some snaps given to Joe Bauserman, the fourth string QB if the game gets out of hand.  Jim Tressel has long said that when it comes to OSU football players, nothing good happens after 10:00 p.m., and thus it is best to be back home by then. 

I will add an additional caveat to this, which goes out to anyone thinking about sex with a prostitute:  If she has all her teeth, she is a cop.

As for Antonio Henton personally, this is a big bump in the road.  How you respond to this adversity will say a lot about you.  You have a great amount of potential, and while you are going to have to be on the shelf and in coach Tressel’s dog house for a while, keep your head down and your mouth shut.  Work hard, study hard, and you can make a comeback.  Troy Smith came back from that thing with money from the boosters.  You can put this behind you as well, but that is a long way off.

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