KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Officials in the WMU athletic Department are weighing whether they should start doing criminal background checks on their sports recruits following the disastrous drafting of Bryson White. It may not be worth the money.
While the Mason Ohio football standout and his coaches in Ohio gave no indication White had a troubled past…police reports claim he may have been involved in as many as four sexual assaults.
None of them resulted in prosecutions.
Within weeks of his arrival in Kalamazoo, police say he forced his way into the apartment of a young woman to rob her of cash and marijuana, and took another Football player along with him.
Ronald George has also been booted off the team and faces charges.
Because none of White’s activities in Ohio resulted in a prosecution, a criminal background check would not have revealed them.
In most cases, juvenile records are protected anyway.
White is free on bail and has apparently returned to Ohio.
The Mason School District now says it plans to investigate a claim by one of White’s alleged rape victims that she was pressured by a coach to drop her complaint.
The school district says it’s very concerned by the allegation, but seemingly less concerned that their coaches failed to tell WMU about White’s problems.
In fact they suggest that they would be prohibited by Federal Law of disclosing a student’s disciplinary history.
