Christopher Stefaun Martin, a 21-year-old junior defensive end of the University of Kansas football team was arrested Wednesday for armed robbery that occurred in the 1900 block of Camelback Drive, May 13. Along with Martin, former Jayhawk member Jeremiah Letrell Edwards,21 and Joshua Edwards, 28, both from Lawrence, have also been detained.
All the three men are charged with aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and kidnapping. Currently, they are being held at Douglas County jail.
Lawrence Police said that cash and marijuana were both allegedly lifted at gunpoint from a residence on southwest Lawrence.
"We are aware of the situation and are in the process of gathering facts. The behavior described in these charges is not acceptable at the University of Kansas. When we are confident that we have enough information, we will act appropriately," Kansas football coach Charlie Weis said.
Weis has earlier suspended players for three games following drunk-driving arrests.
This is not the first time Martin is facing a criminal allegation. Two years ago, he faced a misdemeanor marijuana-possession charge while he was in Florida. If Martin is found guilty, Kansas will suffer a huge loss as he is considered to be a key defense player. Weis had recruited him to help improve Jayhawks' defense, considered to be the worst in the nation against the pass.
Martin, a junior college transfer from City College of San Francisco, arrived in Lawrence this spring and made a huge impact during KU's spring practices.
"We haven't had a guy that looks like an NFL outside linebacker/defensive end. We haven't had a guy like that," Weis said, noting that the team feeds off his energy. "As long as I can keep him out of trouble -- because I've known the guy since he was a sophomore in high school, and there's a whole litany with him."
During his high school days, Martin was ranked the second best defensive lineman with a five-star tag conferred on him because of his 6-5, 250 pound frame and 4.7 40 time.
