Two Nittany Lions enter guilty pleas, sentenced to probation

By Pete Bosak

Nittany Lions Phil Taylor and Navorro Bowman each pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct Friday and were each sentenced to a year’s probation for their roles in an Oct. 7 incident on the Penn State campus.

The two were charged with being among a group of football players who stomped and kicked a man during an altercation at the HUB.

Taylor, a defensive lineman, and Bowman, a linebacker, also were ordered by Centre County Judge Bradley P. Lunsford to perform 100 hours of community service, and pay combined restitution of $586 to the victim and $200 to Penn State.

Charges against Bowman of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea. Simple assault and harassment charges against Taylor also were dropped.

Before he finished, Lunsford told the players he had a message for them.

“You two young men are lucky,” he said. “You are lucky to be playing for a premier college program. You are lucky to be coached by a legend. A lot of people envy you. And a lot of people look up to you.”

The judge recalled sentencing another member of the football team, Anthony Scirotto, to probation as a result of another fight a few months ago. Scirrotto, Bowman and Taylor are just some of the football players who have made headlines for off-field problems.

Lunsford recalled telling Scirrotto that younger children who looked up to him were watching. Now, he said, the entire community is watching.

“This community is becoming more and more frustrated with the actions of some athletes,” Lunsford said. “I imagine the coaches are becoming frustrated. I imagine other athletes are also frustrated. And I know from the court’s perspective, I too am losing patience. It’s embarrassing to have to keep explaining to my kids why premier athletes keep getting into trouble. “

For more details, see tomorrow's Centre Daily Times.