Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:16 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Doral Chenoweth III | DISPATCH
Antonio Henton appears in Franklin County Municipal Court this morning. At left is attorney Tasha Ruth.
Web extras
- Audio; Jim Tressel's Tuesday news conference
- Hear Judge Amy Salerno's comments to Antonio Henton in court today.
- Full text: Judge Salerno's remarks
Antonio Henton, a third-string quarterback for the Ohio State football team, pleaded not guilty in Franklin County Municipal Court this morning on a misdemeanor charge of soliciting for prostitution.
Judge Amy Salerno set bail at $2,500. He posted 10 percent of the bail at 1:30 p.m. and is expected to be released this afternoon.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Henton, 20, was suspended from the team indefinitely and will not travel to Minnesota for Saturday’s game.
"It's a great disappointment for our Buckeye football family, and we are very concerned for Antonio," Tressel said in a statement. "We want to help him utilize any available resources, including counseling, to deal with any problems and seek solutions. Antonio is keenly aware of the standard we have for ourselves, and that makes this even more disappointing.
"Antonio will not lose any academic privileges as an Ohio State student, but he will certainly be suspended indefinitely in terms of his athletic privileges. Specifically in the short term, he will not be traveling with us to Minnesota this weekend."
Tressel said at his weekly luncheon today that Henton likely will remain suspended until his legal situation is resolved.
"In my opinion right now, nothing changes until I know something," Tressel said. "As always, we defer to the legal process and adjust accordingly."
Tressel said 21-year-old freshman Joe Bauserman would travel with the team and dress as the third-string quarterback at Minnesota.
Court records show that he was arrested at N. High Street and 6th Avenue by an undercover policewoman at 8:27 p.m. yesterday.
He agreed to pay $20 for intercourse, according to the police complaint. A police lieutenant said Henton was arrested as part of an undercover sting by the vice squad.
Henton didn't say anything in court.
Henton, a native of Fort Valley, Ga., was a redshirt last season and has played in all four of Ohio State's games in 2007. As a high school senior he was considered one of the nation's top multi-threat quarterbacks because of his running and passing abilities.