Trial of USC football recruit Maurice Simmons nears end
USC FOOTBALL
Compton jury hears final arguments in case against Dominguez High graduate, accused of felony robbery and other allegations. His status with team remains unknown pending outcome.
On the day before the USC football team reports for training camp, a Compton jury heard final arguments in the criminal case against linebacker recruit Maurice Simmons.
The Compton Dominguez High graduate's college career has been placed on hold while he stands accused of felony robbery, assault with a firearm and a misdemeanor charge of allowing someone to bring a gun into his car.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrested Simmons and a codefendant, Lamont Lee Hall, in March after they allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint on a Compton street.
Authorities said they found a handgun and the belongings of the alleged victim in Simmons' car.
On Monday, Simmons' attorney Michael Carney said his client was guilty of "being stupid" but not of a felony.
According to Carney, Simmons ran across Hall, a friend from middle school, and agreed to give him a ride. Hall pulled out a gun but Simmons drove him anyway because, Carney said, "as he terms it, he didn't want to punk out."
The pair stopped at a liquor store where Hall procured alcohol, then asked Simmons to take him to see a relative, the attorney said. Along the way, Hall allegedly told Simmons to pull over so he could talk with a man they spotted from the street.
Carney said that when Hall returned to the car, he did not appear to be carrying stolen property. The pair was arrested shortly thereafter.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Patrick Frye has previously said through a spokeswoman that Simmons is not alleged to have handled the gun at any time.
During the trial, a law enforcement officer testified that he noticed a gang reference on the screen of Simmons' cellphone. Carney argued that was impossible because the phone required a code to unlock.
"Lamont Hall is in a gang," he said. "I don't think you can go to a school in the whole city that doesn't have gang bangers."
Simmons offered to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge. Carney said the prosecutor declined.
As for Simmons' status at the start of football camp, USC Coach Pete Carroll has said he would "just have to wait and see what took place." School administrators will review Simmons' admission once the case is resolved.
david.wharton@latimes.com
