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NEW INFO: Ex-WVU Football Player gets Probation for Assault

Posted: 11:04 AM Apr 17, 2012
Reporter: The Associated Press

UPDATE 4/17/12 @ 2 p.m.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- Former West Virginia University linebacker Branko Busick will spend five years on probation for an assault conviction.

The Associated Press reports that Busick was sentenced Tuesday in Monongalia County Circuit Court. He had pleaded guilty in February to two counts of assault during commission of a felony.

Circuit Judge Russell Clawges suspended a two-to-10-year sentence on each count and gave Busick probation.

Busick will serve his probation in Hancock County, where he now lives with his parents.

The charges stem from a robbery at a Morgantown apartment in 2011.

Co-defendant Nicholas Conques is scheduled to be sentenced April 20 on conspiracy charges.

West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen dismissed Busick from the team after he was charged.

UPDATE 7/14/11 @ 11:11 p.m.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va (WSAZ) -- A WVU football player has already been kicked off the football team, and Thursday night he went back behind bars.

Branko Busick has been charged with a second, similar crime.

Morgantown police say Buisck was arrested for another, unrelated armed robbery earlier this week.

The victim in the new case told police he was hit in the face and knocked down as he walked home from work in June.

This week he identified Busick as the man who stole his phone and wallet.

Busick was first arrested Monday after another victim told police a man had pointed a gun at him and two others, demanding money.

Busick could get up to 10 years in prison on each count if convicted.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest.

UPDATE 7/12/11 @ 2:55 p.m.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia linebacker Branko Busick was dismissed from the team Tuesday, a day after he was arrested on an armed robbery charge.

WVU coach Dana Holgorsen said without elaboration that Busick had been kicked off the team for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

Police say a man reported that he was struck repeatedly with a gun at a Morgantown apartment building after he told his assailant he had no money.

The 20-year-old Busick was freed on $25,000 bond after being arraigned Tuesday. A Monongalia County magistrate court official says Busick's father posted a property bond. Nick Busick is the former WWF wrestler Big Bully Busick.

Court records show that Branko Busick does not yet have an attorney.

A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 1.

ORIGINAL STORY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia University linebacker
Branko Busick is in the North Central Regional Jail charged with
armed robbery.

Police say the 20-year-old Steubenville, Ohio, native was
arrested Monday evening after an incident at a Morgantown apartment
building. He's expected to be arraigned Tuesday.

Morgantown police say a caller reported a man had pointed a gun
at him and two others, demanding money. When the victim said he had none, the man began hitting him with the weapon.

The victim says he was struck repeatedly before being forced out
of the apartment and into the street.

It's unclear what kind of weapon was involved. Police said
Tuesday they had no information beyond a brief prepared statement.

Police found four people the apartment but arrested only Busick.

WVU athletic officials didn't immediately comment.