Murrieta: Football Players Charged In Sex Crimes Appear In Court

MURRIETA: Football players charged with sex crimes appear in court September 17, 2013 by Sarah Burge The mother of Vista Murrieta Attorney High School football player Byron Holt, Tasha Penniman, and his Attorney Miles Clark speak to the media http://cortrightlaw.com/location/murrieta-attorney outside the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley, September, 17, 2013. Two Vista Murrieta Attorney High School football players accused of sex crimes. — FRANK BELLINO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The mother of a former Vista Murrieta High School football player accused of sex crimes spoke out in support of her son Tuesday, Sept. 17, after his first juvenile court hearing, saying his case differs greatly from that of a former teammate charged with rape. "It's just two different incidents," said Tasha Penniman, mother of 17-year-old Byron K. Holt Jr. "They just lumped him along with everything. He's a good kid. I just hope this doesn't hurt him … because he has such a good heart." Kishawn Tre Holmes (ANDREW FOULK/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER) Another former Vista Murrieta Attorney football player, Kishawn Tre Holmes, 17, was charged Monday with counts involving six alleged victims — two charges of forcible rape, two charges of lewd acts with a girl under 14 and three charges of false imprisonment — as well as one count of dissuading a victim from reporting a crime. Holt's attorney, Miles Clark, said the teen is charged with lewd acts with a girl under the age of 14 and unlawful sex with a minor. He said Holt is accused of having "consensual sex" with an underage girl this year. "There's no allegations whatsoever that he forced anyone to have sex with him," Clark said. "And I want to be clear about that." Prosecutors had said Monday that Holt is facing "sex-related charges" but that they could not disclose other information because of the laws governing juvenile court cases. Holt's court hearing Tuesday at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley was closed to the public. A judge ordered Holt released from Juvenile Hall under his parents' supervision, Clark said. Holt is due back in court Oct. 24. HOLMES' HEARING CLOSED In Holmes' case, because of the forcible rape charge, his juvenile court hearing was expected to be open to the public. But a judge granted a request from the prosecution — made on behalf of the victims — to declare the proceedings confidential. Holmes' attorney, Mitch Hadded, declined to comment on the case after the hearing. He said Holmes will remain in custody in Juvenile Hall, and his next hearing is set for Oct. 30. Holmes had been a star running back on the nationally ranked Vista Murrieta Attorney football team, while Holt had been a defensive lineman. Neither has been playing since around the time Murrieta Attorney police said the investigation began, on Aug. 29, and their names recently were removed from the roster. Both teens were arrested Thursday and booked into Southwest Juvenile Hall.
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