George Schroeder of the EUGENE REGISTER-GUARD reports this morning from Lane County Circuit Court that Oregon running back LaMichael James pleaded no contest to one charge of harassment and was sentenced by a judge to 10 days in jail and 24 months probation.

The other four assault charges against James were dropped.

Jeremiah Masoli’s court appearance will come later this afternoon. He’s facing a felony burglary charges that carries a max prison sentence of five years.

KVAL-TV has details from James’ attorney on why he plead no contest to the harassment charge. Read more…

Contradicting an ESPN Radio report earlier today, PORTLAND OREGONIAN columnist and KXTG-FM radio host John Canzano reported on his Twitter.com account this afternoon that Oregon Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has not had his locker cleaned out.

Canzano added in an e-mail message to me that Oregon Coach Chip Kelly was his source and that the coach also denied another ESPN Radio-sourced report that police had found Masoli’s fingerprints on a stolen laptop. Read more…

UPDATE (6:36p ET): ESPN Radio in Portland (KFXX 1080 AM) reports this afternoon that police found Oregon Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s fingerprints on “stolen property” that was reported missing from the same Oregon fraternity house where the football player was accused of theft.

KFXX show host Jason Scukanec added on-air that the stolen property was a Macbook Pro laptop computer that alleged theft victim Max Wolfard reported stolen and was subsequently recovered.

KFXX also reports that LaMichael James will “plead down” to a harassment charge tomorrow and face no suspension. James initially pleaded not guilty to five misdemeanor assault charges.

I’ve been told that Chip Kelly will not speak to the media until next week, though a statement from the coach may come tomorrow.

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Two Portland-based ESPN Radio staffers are claiming that Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who will arraigned tomorrow on a felony burglary charge, has had his Oregon football locker “cleaned out.”

One of the on-air personalities is also claiming that LaMichael James will not face any suspension despite a looming “changed” plea to multiple charges of misdemeanor assault tomorrow. James had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges. Read more…

At 8:30 AM Friday morning, Oregon starting quarterback and current 2010 Heisman Trophy candidate Jeremiah Masoli will be arraigned on a charge of second degree burglary in courtroom 305 at Lane County Circuit Court in Eugene, Oregon.

Masoli, who has a criminal past that includes a guilty plea to multiple, strong-armed robberies as a juvenile in 2005, is accused of what the state of Oregon classifies as a Class C felony.

164.215 Burglary in the second degree: a person commits the crime of burglary in the second degree if the person enters or remains unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime therein.

(2) Burglary in the second degree is a Class C felony.

If convicted of the felony charge, in lieu of his criminal past, Masoli could face significant jail time.

Read more…

John Canzano of the PORTLAND OREGONIAN emailed me this afternoon to report that Oregon starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has been charged with one count of second degree burglary for his role in an incident at an Oregon fraternity house on Jan. 24.

Former Oregon player Garrett Embry has also been charged with one count of burglary. The two will be arraigned on Friday morning at the Lane County courthouse in Eugene, Oregon.

KVAL-TV has more details on the case. Read more…