Ohio St. LB Klein Arrested and Charged With Assault and Domestic Violence

Submitted by hart20 on

Ohio St. LB Storm Klein has been arrested and charged with assault and domestic violence.

From ESPN:

 

A man matching the description of Buckeyes linebacker Storm Klein faces one charge of domestic violence and one for assault, according to a Franklin County Municipal Court case summary, perhaps providing new coach Urban Meyer with another early bit of adversity.

 

According to the court records, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound man with blonde hair named Storm Klein was arrested Friday and is scheduled for arraignment on Saturday morning. Ohio State officials had not confirmed Klein's identity as of late Friday night, but the descriptions in the report match closely with the senior who left spring practice as the backup at middle linebacker.

 

Klein started 10 games for the Buckeyes last season and posted 45 tackles while also recording an interception, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery.

 

But he wasn't able to hold on to a first-team role after the first camp under Meyer, losing his spot to Curtis Grant.

 

It'll be interesting to see how Meyer handles this situation. Klein has previously been charged with assault, although the charges were dropped. These new charges, alone, are a dismissable offense at every Big Ten university. 

Most Ohio St. fans are calling for the dismissal of Klein. I tend to think that Klein will be dismissed as well.

But let's not forget what happened at Florida. Wasn't it something like 41 arrests in 3 years? Well, he's seen 3 arrests just in the past 2 months. The Stoneburner and Mewhort punishments were just for show. This is Meyer's first big test as coach. 

 

Link to court document: http://i.imgur.com/vR43G.png

ESPN link: http://espn.go.com/colleges/osu/story/_/id/8137918/ohio-state-lb-storm-klein-faces-domestic-violence-assault-charges-police-say

Eleven Warriors link: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2012/07/12271/storm-klein-charged-with-assault-domestic-violence#comments

 

 

 

Mr.Mario86

July 7th, 2012 at 4:41 AM ^

You think the Stoneburner punishment was for show? Can you read minds or something? Troll.

hart20

July 7th, 2012 at 5:05 AM ^

were both for show. Taking away scholarships for peeing on a car is excessive. So why do it?  Urban Meyer knows that he enjoys a stigma of letting criminals play for his teams. The arrests of Stoneburner and Mewhort presented an opportunity to combat that stigma without doing real damage to his team. Saying that their scholarships are taken away for such a petty offense draws gasps from outside observers; no one will notice when their scholarships are given back to them at the end of the summer. Paying 2 grand for summer classes is nothing to the Stoneburners. They're just as rich, if not richer, than Urban Meyer.

Long story short, Urban Meyer looks like he's cracking down, while the punishment is a relative slap on the wrist. If you feel otherwise, I'd enjoy reading a well thought out, properly written dissent.

steviebrownfor…

July 7th, 2012 at 8:52 AM ^

The "punishments" are clearly for show... what is the actual punishment? there isn't one.  If they stay out of trouble, they will be back on scholarship come September.  If they don't stay out of trouble, they'd be kicked out regardless of what the punishment was the first time they got into trouble.

Classic Ohio/Urban Meyer...

 

Magnus

July 7th, 2012 at 9:17 AM ^

Considering he hasn't had a chance to suspend them for a few practices yet (and won't until August), then I think we're jumping to conclusions.

Mewhort/Stoneburner are being given second chances for minor offenses.  If they don't get in an ounce of trouble for the rest of their careers, then perhaps the lesson was learned.  On July 7, 2012, we have no idea how clearly the message is getting through.

Jeez, Meyer hasn't even coached a single game at Ohio State.  I get that Florida wasn't known for their good behavior during his tenure, but who knows?  Maybe Meyer learned from his mistakes, too.

clarkiefromcanada

July 7th, 2012 at 11:08 AM ^

Agreeing with Magnus point but I would add an emphasis that the categorization of all 'incidents' together is really quite wrong. Mewhort/Stoneburner's 'pissing contest' punishments relate to a relatively minor nuissance charge. IIRC they were not charged with indecent exposure which might have carried different implications.

Any sort of reasonable measures of Meyer's new "tough on crime" stance can only be seen with how he deals with this new more serious type of offense. When you consider the implications of Klein's (alleged) offenses...domestic violence (jeebus)...versus those of Mewhort/Stoneburner then the onus is going to be on Meyer to do something given his past history of too great a tolerance.

As an aside, I am sure the other inmates were impressed with the work done at Fine Line Tattoos for Mr. Klein. In reading the 11W comments its pretty scary how quick the Ohio fan will go from defending the guy (TatGate era) to jumping all over him (today). I am glad the M fanbase is strictly reactionary about every single random recruit twitter post.

A wholly separate question regarding the Klein incident and questions of dismissal...but what the hell happened to "innocent until proven guilty". 

 

hart20

July 7th, 2012 at 4:11 PM ^

punishment was for show, it translated to a relatively minor punishment for a minor offense. They shouldn't have been punished anything more.

But do we really know the intentions of any person but ourselves? We can only rely on inferring the intentions based on past history, circumstances surrounding the person, and analyzing what the person stands to lose or gain by their action. Attempting to  divine the intentions of a head coach is part of following any sport closely.

Frito Bandito

July 7th, 2012 at 7:46 AM ^

Jerald and Josh did what exactly? They were found guilty of assault???

Oh yeah, that wasn't it at all.. One drove through a parking arm and one got kicked out of an apartment complex... Stonum much like Kevin Grady cannot be helped.. I understand the kid has yet to go to trial but it can't be less serious than what Jerald and Josh did..

Magnus

July 7th, 2012 at 7:59 AM ^

"I understand the kid has yet to go to trial..."

And that's the whole point.  Thank you for helping me make it.  We can't sit here and claim that OSU is classless when we've got kids going through the legal system, too.

Cope

July 7th, 2012 at 9:03 AM ^

we have legal troubles too. But devil's advocate: domestic violence, if true, is a lot worse, in my mind than a DUI, which is really bad. Hey, we'll wait for it all to play out, and I don't see why we need to get overly critical of an organization of about 100 teenagers/early 20's. Issues are going to come.
But on the off chance this one turns out to be more than supposition, and includes, say, some sort of abuse against a girl, that's more than legal troubles.
But Meyer shouldn't be guilty before proven innocent. I'd rather dislike him on the football field than have to impugn his character every time something comes up.

Magnus

July 7th, 2012 at 9:09 AM ^

Again, that depends.  If the "domestic violence" is shoving a girl back into a wall or grabbing her too hard by the wrist...I'd say that's less egregious than driving a 2,000 lb. machine around public streets.

The point is, we don't know the facts.  And it might turn out that Klein is completely innocent.  We're quick to criticize Ohio State, but we're very reticent to criticize our own.  "Let's not judge Furman until he has his day in court...but that Storm Klein kid is an insidious bastard who has no regard for others!"  (Exaggerated, yes, I know.)

Lionsfan

July 7th, 2012 at 9:49 AM ^

"Let's not judge Furman until he has his day in court...but that Storm Klein kid is an insidious bastard who has no regard for others!" (Exaggerated, yes, I know.)

It's really not that exaggerated. The first posts are all about Urban is just pretending to crack down on people. Hell even in the OP:

These new charges, alone, are a dismissable offense at every Big Ten university.

Let's just forget that until the court-date, we didn't have anything to go on Furman besides "arrested for one misdemeanor count each of domestic violence, assault and breaking and entering."

Section 1

July 7th, 2012 at 10:25 AM ^

The comparison to Furman is the most apt one right now.

Because "domestic" allegations and charges are uniquely dodgy.  Furman was (in my mind) ridiculously over-charged by an over-aggressive prosecutor.  He went to trial and was found not guilty.

The overheated trashtalking on this board seems oblivious to that (very) recent history.

One other thing about Storm Klein; he was one of the guys identified by Sports Illustrated in connection with the Fine Line tattoo parlor when in fact he didn't have a tattoo.  That's not a conclusive exoneration of course.  I don't know what exactly Sports Illustrated thinks that Klein did at Fine Line.  But Klein had no tattoos (at least none at the time), and he had all of his team-issued prizes (rings, gold pants, etc.).

This might turn out to be a crime, and Klein might turn out to be guilty.  But the lack of insight here on this Board -- with some notable exceptions both above and below -- is pretty astounding. 

matty blue

July 7th, 2012 at 10:02 AM ^

man, it bugs me that it takes about 20 comments before someone points that out.

every program has idiots.  every single one.  to suggest that we're better because we have one or two fewer, or that our guys' infractions are less severe, or whatever other comparison you want to make, is like building on the beach.  eventually it's going to get washed away.

what matters is how the leadership deals with them, and even then you probably shouldn't compare them too much.  you just never know every single aspect of a story.  all you can do, really, is ask if you think our guys handle it right when it happens.  if you think so, then don't worry about the other guys.

mGrowOld

July 7th, 2012 at 8:34 AM ^

For all the criticism Meyer takes on this board for being.....well Urban Meyer it seems.....can anyone point to a player infraction/situation so far at Ohio State where they believe Hoke would've acted any differently if faced with a similar circumstance?  I dislike the guy as much as the next Michigan fan for being a smug, self-important little toolbag who I cannot wait to beat next November but I think we're being more than a bit disingenous when we talk about his disciplining of his Ohio State players.  

steviebrownfor…

July 7th, 2012 at 8:59 AM ^

The dude clearly has a track record of tolerating unruly behavior out of his athletes.  As somone else said, he's been there for two months...  It is quite reasonable to expect that he will continue his pattern of not appropriately punishing his own players.

Also, keep in mind that that whole roster was recruited by the Vest.  Not that the Vest was this upstanding moral guy (obviously) but give Meyer a chance to get some of his guys to Ohio and watch the arrests and soft punishments pile up.

Your question is a question of sample size.

Lionsfan

July 7th, 2012 at 9:54 AM ^

So then let's hear it. What is your punishment for 2 guys, with no prior records, who have arrested for pissing on a building? Outright dismissal from the team?

I would be willing to bet a lot of money when I say that if 2 guys were arrested at UM for doing this, and Hoke did the same punishment, you would be writing about "How great it is, and gives them a chance to grow up etc. etc."

steviebrownfor…

July 7th, 2012 at 10:09 AM ^

for disagreeing with Magnus.  I sometimes forget the affect that doing so has on how one's posts are gauged and interpreted.

As I said, suspend them for practices, a game, or something.  Do you actually think they were punished? how are their lives different? how are their roles on the team affected at all?  they aren't.  it's not a punishment...

but you're right, that IS probably what I would post.  What a mind -reader you are.  In honesty I would be saying "so... how is this a punishment?"

nowhere have I said that the punishment in this case didn't fit the crime, I've simply said that it's not really a punishment...

Lionsfan

July 7th, 2012 at 10:18 AM ^

They've been suspended for the entire summer from participating in team workouts. So you really have no reason to be upset, since that covers "suspend them for practices/something". Stoneburner and Mewhort don't deserve to miss any games for this.

As for it not really being a punishment, well an iffy "crime" gets an Iffy "punishment"

mGrowOld

July 7th, 2012 at 10:30 AM ^

 

Your missing the point Lionsfan.  This is how some on the board think:

OSU player gets in trouble and gets minor discipline from Meyer....

"I knew it!  He's easy on the players and lets them get away with murder I tell you.  He runs a renegade program, just like he did in Florida, where the inmates run the prison!  They are a bunch of thugs and criminals."

OSU player gets in trouble and gets moderate discipline from Meyer.....

"I knew it!  He's just doing this for show.  This really doesn't mean a thing because <insert rationalization here> and in reality this just proves what I've said all along.

OSU player gets in trouble and gets severe discipline from Meyer......

"I knew it!  He's just clearing scholly's so he can oversign with impunity.  The kid didn't really  deserve this because <inserst rationalization here> and Meyer overreacted.  He's just clearing the deck of players he doesnt want."

brandanomano

July 7th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^

I'm all for this approach after seeing RR get the same treatment (whether it was deserved or not is something I don't want to get into again) everytime he did something while at Michigan. We've seen how the masses can seriously effect other people's perspective on a coach or player a lot recently, and I don't really feel like going out of my way to defend Meyer.

StephenRKass

July 7th, 2012 at 1:38 PM ^

Isn't that how it is in life, though?

If you like someone, they can do no wrong, and you can easily enough overlook or rationalize their behavior.

If you don't like someone, they can do no right, and you can easily enough find reason to criticize their behavior.

Whatever Urban Meyer is, he isn't an idiot. I hate it when Michigan homersd criticize everything he does, and when Ohio homers criticize everything Hoke does. The truth is pretty much guaranteed to lie somewhere inbetween.

Urban Warfare

July 7th, 2012 at 5:30 PM ^

Urban already kicked Derjaun Gambrell for beating up his girlfriend, and Dominic Clarke off the team for running a stop sign/OVI. 

What more would you have him do?  Shoot them?

redwhiteandmaize

July 7th, 2012 at 8:55 AM ^

To blame any coach when somebody gets in trouble is insane.Its the coachs job to dish out the punishment not follow around all 90 players he has.As much as I dont like Urban Meyer this off season hasnt been exactly quiet on this front for Michigan.

steviebrownfor…

July 7th, 2012 at 9:18 AM ^

Whether or not he kicked Newton off the team is irrellevant here.  Fact is, Newton was just another player who Meyer recruited that got into serious legal trouble.

But, more to your point, Meyer did NOT kick Cam off the team.  Cam stole a laptop - which was one of three times he got in trouble for theft at UF.  Despite this, he was able to get the charges dropped for completing a "pre-trial diversion program" and actually played for the Gators later that season. 

He ended up leaving UF by his "own choice" when really he was facing expulsion for academic fraud.

Cope

July 7th, 2012 at 10:41 AM ^

Is it really his own choice when he's facing academic expulsion?
Officially, yes, his story was that he left of his own accord. But the common understanding around campus was that he'd all but been shown the door by the program.
While having no exact quotes from insiders, my wife went to Florda and was acquainted with some of the football players, played flag football with Tebow, studied with him, and her circles were of the understanding that Florida had unofficially made it clear he was done. Whatever that may be worth. learned to doubt the word of a disingenuous kid who stole laptops, cheated, and solicited major chunks of change to play amateur ball.
He was done at Florida and he knew it. I'm pretty confident thats why he left.

Magnus

July 7th, 2012 at 9:11 AM ^

I'm not sure who he was responsible for recruiting at Florida and who was already there, but Mewhort, Stoneburner, and Klein were all in Columbus before Meyer arrived.  So yes, I agree that a coach is responsible for the kids he recruits...but that's not really relevant here, and it might not be relevant with several of those 41 arrests at UF.

htownwolverine

July 7th, 2012 at 9:04 AM ^

I'm with Magnus on this one. While true DV is horrible, more often than not an incident is just an argument with an over-reactive spouse making a call. I'd wait and see.



A side note to this is how Urbz has not won over the local fuzz. So many leaks so early. St. Tress had the boys locked down tight.

LSAClassOf2000

July 7th, 2012 at 10:11 AM ^

As others have mentioned, some of the earlier arrests under Meyer's tenure at Florida were players that had been recruited by Ron Zook, so it's not exactly fair to blame Meyer for the problems he inherited in the first place. It's easy to draw hard lines between coaching regimes, but it is a very gradated transition when it comes to the players themselves. 

As unpredictable as the punishments may have been during Meyer's time at Florida, I should point out that at least per this old Orlando Sentinel piece (which only lists the first 24 arrests), he did remove Jacques Rickerson from the team in late  2008 for a DV  incident  (after a previous misdemeanor marijuana possession charge, so it wasn't Rickerson's first run-in). We may disagree with what punishment was fitting for what infraction, but it isn't as  if Urban Meyer didn't act somehow in cases such as these. We should certainly see how this case pans out first, of course. Whereas I believe Rickerson actually tried to strangle someone, we don't know really anything about this case right now. 

Further, we should remember that he sort of walked into a very "interesting" culture at Ohio, if you will, where Tressel seemed to foster a notion that they were separate and apart from the rules, and even if Meyer has come to Columbus in a reform-minded state, it would take him some time to implement it, and I wouldn't expect it to work entirely with the players from the previous regime (I believe Klein is a senior, as are Mewhort and Stoneburner, so regardless of who the new coach was, it would be an awkward transition after three years of Tressel). It seems to me that we'll know if it is the "Florida Meyer" or not when he has a large contingent of his recruits on  the team. 

I still don't like Urban Meyer, but there isn't enough data on his tenure at Ohio to make such judgments yet, and other factors (different  conference, different staff, walking into a situation with pre-existing discipline, etc...) make a prediction of what he may do at Ohio based on his time at Florida more difficult than some seem to think.