UW-Madison freshman Lesha Jones made her initial appearance in Dane County court Monday morning, facing charges of burglary to a building or dwelling, a felony punishable with up to 12.5 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
The criminal complaint alleged Jones, a redshirt on the women's basketball team, stole a purse containing two Visa credit cards, a Visa debit card and $25 in cash Jan. 22 from the room of Stephanie Kirtiardi, also a UW-Madison freshman who lives on the same Ogg Hall floor. Kirtiardi alleged Jones charged $4,400 in two incidents to U.S. Cellular before Kirtiardi cancelled the cards.
According to the criminal complaint, Jones confessed that she entered Kirtiardi's room and used the credit cards to spend $4,400.
Assistant District Attorney Mike Verveer offered bail Monday on the condition Jones not contact Kirtiadi.
The UW Athletic Department suspended Jones Feb. 15 from the team for violating the Student Athlete Discipline Policy.
Jones was recruited from Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, Mich., where she was instrumental in that team's 2003 Class A championship. She had been sitting out this season after knee surgery in May 2004.
Kirtiardi was unavailable for comment Monday. At her hearing, Jones had not yet hired a lawyer and declined comment.
