Wide receiver Jabari Taylor won't be playing football for Minnesota State Moorhead this fall, athletic director Doug Peters said Thursday.
Taylor has been sentenced to electronic home monitoring and probation for possessing marijuana with intent to sell. He previously pleaded guilty to a felony fifth-degree controlled substance possession charge in Clay County District Court. Judge Galen Vaa sentenced Taylor on Thursday to 30 days of electronic home monitoring, $585 in fines and fees and up to five years of supervised probation.
Taylor must also complete a chemical dependency evaluation and follow any recommendations.
"He is no longer a member of the Dragon football team," Peters said. "Dragon athletics has a high standard of behavior and unfortunately it wasn't met in this case."
Taylor had been suspended indefinitely and didn't participate in spring practice. As a junior, he was MSUM's top receiver last season with 74 catches for 666 yards and three touchdowns.
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The Dragons start fall practice on Aug. 8.
"I'm very disappointed with what's happened here in this situation," MSUM head coach Damon Tomeo said. "We have a high standard of excellence here. We demand a lot of our guys, not just as students but also as athletes, and we expect these things to be met and in this situation it wasn't."
Vaa ordered a stay of adjudication for the sentence, meaning if Taylor, 21, completes the sentence terms there will not be a finding of guilt and the case will not appear on his record.
Taylor was given credit for four days previously spent in custody.
"I made a mistake in life and I'm ready to put it behind me and move forward," he told the judge.
Vaa wished him luck, telling Taylor not to let the case ruin his outlook on life.
Taylor declined to comment after the hearing.
According to court documents, officers found marijuana stems, 18 small baggies of suspected marijuana, a MoneyGram receipt and a digital scale in a bedroom identified as Taylor's. The total weight of marijuana found was about 52.6 grams, court documents state.
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Readers can reach Forum reporters Brittany Lawonn at (701) 241-5541 and Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513
