Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Phillips suspended, charged with felonies
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida State football team hoped Da’Vante Phillips would develop into a reliable receiver capable of helping the Seminoles win a national championship in 2017.
But Phillips’ status with the team is in question after being suspended indefinitely by the school on Friday.
Phillips has been charged with four felony counts of cashing or depositing items with intent to defraud, and one felony count of grand theft more than $300 and less than $5,000, according to the Leon County sheriff ’s office.
Phillips turned himself in to the Leon County jail Friday at 10:30 a.m. He posted bond and was released at 1:42 p.m. He is expected to appear in Leon County court on Saturday.
The fraud investigation began after Phillips called FSU police to file a report for his stolen wallet on Feb. 23, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by the Orlando Sentinel on Friday.
Phillips used white out or another substance to alter the amount of four Western Union checks for $700 each, and deposited $2,800 into his SunTrust bank account at an ATM on Jan. 13.
The four Western Union checks, which are similar to money orders, were initially purchased from a local Publix on the same day for a total of $485.89. The difference was $2,314.11.
Phillips was identified in Publix security camera footage, wearing the same clothes and identified by his hair during the ATM transaction. He tried to conceal his identity while making the ATM deposit, but was seen walking in front of the camera leaving after the transaction.
When contacting the officer for his wallet, Phillips handed a receipt for 14 transactions from his bank account. He told the officer his wallet was lost in January. The officer then visited SunTrust Bank and Publix, making the connection between the original Western Union check amounts and the checks deposited in Phillips’ account.
The officer offered a victims’ rights brochure to Phillips, but he did not accept it, according to the report.
Phillips, a junior from Miami, was expected to be a key contributor to FSU’s relatively thin group of wide receivers during the season. He has played in 19 career games, mostly on special teams, with five total receptions.
Phillips, a close childhood friend of former FSU running back Dalvin Cook, saw injuries derail most of his playing time in 2016. An ankle injury kept him out of the Orange Bowl, but Florida State receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey said in January he hoped Phillips would remain encouraged during the offseason.
“We need him. This is his time, and he knows this is his time,” Dawsey said of Phillips before spring, summer and preseason workouts. “He wants to compete. We hurt for the kids in these situations. Hopefully he stays focused and comes back.”
Phillips participated in three Florida State preseason practices before his arrest and suspension. FSU’s athletic policy states a player cannot represent the university in game competition after being charged with a felony.
The Seminoles will rely on third-year receivers George Campbell, Auden Tate and Nyqwan Murray, sophomore Keith Gavin and freshmen D.J. Matthews and Tamorrion Terry in the passing game during the preseason. They’ll work with starting quarterback Deondre Francois, who has worked to improve following a strong freshman season.
The Seminoles open the season against Alabama in Atlanta on Sept. 2 at 8 p.m.