Judge denies youthful offender status for former Auburn player Shaun Kitchens

The four players arrested for robbery were immediately dismissed from the team in March.

 

 

AUBURN, Alabama -- A judge declined to grant youthful offender status to former Auburn former football player Shaun Kitchens, according to court documents published this morning.

Goodwin was one of four former Auburn players arrested for armed robbery in March.

Two others, Dakota Mosley and Antonio Goodwin, are also seeking youthful offender treatment. There was was no new information on whether their request had also been rejected this morning.

A fourth player, Mike McNeil, is too old to apply for the treatment, but his attorney has questioned the constitutionality of the state statute.

Lee County Circuit Court Judge Christopher J. Hughes said he considered input from the defense, Kitchens' family, a probation officer who interviewed Kitchens, prosecutors and the alleged victims.

Lee County District Attorney Robbie Treese has opposed youthful offender treatment for all the defendants in the case. One victim was not opposed to youthful offender status for the defendants; another wrote a letter to the court opposing it.

The four ex-players were indicted in May on five counts of first-degree robbery, one count of first-degree burglary and one count of third-degree theft of property. Mosley also faces a misdemeanor count of conspiracy to hinder business.

Under Alabama law, judges have wide discretion to allow youthful offender treatment to defendants under the age of 21. Such status would seal records in the case and allow defendants to avoid jail time if certain conditions are met.