*CSUN basketball player, coach's son among four facing grand theft charges (Updated)

* Updated at 8:25 a.m. Wednesday

A Cal State Northridge basketball player, along with a coach’s son and two other men, is facing charges for allegedly stealing more than $6,600 in merchandise from a Best Buy on New Year’s Day, officials said.

Jeffrey Robert Braswell, 22, son of Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell, will be arraigned this afternoon in San Fernando Superior Court, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Braswell is being held on $60,000 bail, the district attorney’s office said in a statement.

It names CSUN player Deon Tresvant, 23; Phannuel Gbewonyo, 28; and Dallas Rutherford, 19, along with Braswell, as the suspects in the theft at a Porter Ranch Best Buy. Tresvant is a guard for the Northridge Matadors men’s basketball team, and Rutherford is the son of Dudley Rutherford, a pastor at the Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch.

Prosecutors allege Braswell logged into a cash register using the password of an employee who had the holiday off work, allowing Tresvant, Gbewonyo and Rutherford to check out items without paying for them, the statement said. The thefts were discovered when Best Buy officials found a discrepancy at the register.

Braswell, who was arrested Jan. 3, has been charged with one count of second-degree commercial burglary and three counts of grand theft exceeding $400, the statement said. Tresvant, Gbewonyo and Rutherford were arrested Jan. 5, and each face one count of second-degree commercial burglary and grand theft exceeding $400, the statement said. Braswell had not posted bail as of this afternoon, but his three codefendants were released Monday after posting $20,000 bail each, Robison said.

* UPDATE: Rutherford is also on the Northridge men's basketball roster. Read more coverage of the arrests from The Times' sports department.

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles

Photo: Deon Tresvant

Comments

[Rae]

To Tim Bass:
Many people from all over the globe attend CSUN because it is top 25 ranked. The basketball team may not be too great but the academics are. People from Los Angeles to Japan attend this institution of higher learning. You look foolish sir. Look into things before you speak.

[John]

I’m so sick of hypocritical “Christians” who circle their wagons at any criticism of their pastor or church when one of their members is caught in a scandal. You tell us that we have no right to judge others—I’m pretty certain that there’s a lot of moral “judging” going on in the Shepherd of the Hills Church (which sits prominently on a well-groomed, luxurious campus across Rinaldi Avenue from the site of the crime). We’ve already heard how you have summarily judged gays, most of whom go about their business without bothering the rest of us, and many of whom have greatly improved our lives through their creativity and other endeavors. And I’m certain that Shepherd of the Hills folks do not hesitate to judge anyone who does not believe in YOUR VERSION of Christianity. Please stop with the “casting the first stone” silliness—you guys have been throwing tons of stones every Sunday—and now you’re upset when we toss one back at you? At the very least, there’s a parental failure here—maybe the pastor should have spent more time judging his son than judging the rest of us. It IS relevant that one of the thieves’ parents is a pastor, who, by definition, presents himself as an authority on moral values—especially those of others. I’m sure that your pastor has many good qualities—charisma, so it seems, the chief among them—but this shameful incident is an illustration of the limitations on his moral authority—which seem to start within his very household.

[Argyle]

Pastor Dudley should pray that the world shows far more compassion to him, his son and family than the pastor has shown towards gay men women, children and families. We are all God's children. Your son's transgressions should remind you of God's compassion. May I suggest pastor, that you put down some of those stone you have been first to throw?

[DOLORES RODRIGUEZ]

EL PASTOR DUDLEY ES UN EXCELENTE PASTOR, Y RECUERDEN EL NO FUE EL QUE COMETIO LA FALTA, SI ERES CRISTIANO OREMOS POR EL , PORQUE SABES ,EL HA ORADO MUCHO POR TODOS LOS ABITANTES DEL VALLE DE SAN FERNANDO, EL NECESITA DE NUESTRAS ORACIONES, NO LO DEJEMOS SOLO.DIOS LO BENDIGA PASTOR.

[csunmike]

Rumor is that a bunch of stuff is being sold around campus. Looks like the Braswell crew has been busy!

[Sandy Marquez]

I love my pastor (Dudley Rutherford) My prayers are with him and his family. God is still in control even when we think his is not.

[Nick]

I just can't not believe, a person that claims to go to Shepherd of the Hills will say or criticized and judge Pastor Dudley, because of what happened with his son, remember people, his only a father just like the rest of us, just because he is a pastor doesn't mean that he’s perfect. If you are a parent that has teenagers leaving in your house, you should look at your self first before you say a word and star criticizing others.

If this person was smart enough, will not be posting such a comment and especially not be such a hypocrite.

Before judging some one, remember who you are and how you live your life, and before making negative comments or star criticizing some one, look at your self first.

Now about Pastor Dudley, he is a Good dad and an excellent Pastor, and remember his son is human just like the rest of us, only GOD and his son JESUS are perfect.

Pastor Dudley... You are on our prayers.

[Former CSUN Student]

As a non-athlete out-of-towner who had a choice of universities, I chose CSUN because the major was ranked within the top 25 AROUND THE COUNTRY. It's no secret that CSUN suffers from lack of recognition in the Los Angeles area because there are schools out here with outstanding programs of their own.

Yes, the school does get "clowned on" by other social frats and sororities. And yes, I did initially regret going there upon feeling that the campus felt like an extension of high school when I had other places to choose from. But all of that is forgotten when I go to a conference and hear "You went to CSUN? Oh wow - they have a really good program!"

[Ursula]

I am a member of Shepherd of The Hills Church, and have only great things to say about Pastor Dudley, his family, and everything they have done for the church and the community. Like the earlier comments read, he and his family are human just like all of us. Saying that he is hypocritical is just an ignorant thing to say, especially coming from someone who attends the church. What the family needs now is our support and our prayers. Our prayers are with you and your famiy Dudley. We love you!

[Tim Bass]

Doesnt matter - CSUN is a joke school. You may be d1 in basketball but nobody takes you seriously. Its basically a step up from community college. All the kids that go there are from the San Fernando Valley. Nobody out of LA has heard of CSUN. Your frats and sororities get clowned on so hard by all the real universities. Most of the students live at home with mom and dad. YOU GUYS ARE BASICALLY 13TH-16TH GRADE.

[Seyla Linn Ritts]

I go to Shepherd of the Hills and let me say stop getting on Pastor Rutherford's back, its not him who did the crime. My own brother has done some pretty idiotic things and he was raised in a Christian home knowing Christ so if your gunna judge Pastor Dudley and his family and his church why not judge the rest of the Christian homes in America that somebody falls onto temptaion in? Pastor Rutherford is a really really great pastor and does a really good job at preaching God's Word. Please don't judge him for his son's mistakes.

[Henry]

"Pastor Dudley is a fabulous pastor what he and his family need now is prayer and support, not ridicule."

Hmmmm....

Just like his recent prayer and support of our gay brothers and sisters?

[Sarah Linn-Ritts]

I go to Shepherd of the Hills and feel for Pastor Rutherford who has mentioned that he always has to deal with the pressures of this modern age and is constantly having to tell his kids right from wrong (even when their friends are doing it), as all of us as parent have to do. We can only try to teach our children, they all have their own freewill and I do not believe that this in anyway is a bad reflection on Pastor Rutherford, quite the contrary it shows that he must deal with very human situations and if anyone should be ashamed it is his son and other counterparts involved in the crime. His son can never claim he did not know that it was wrong and needs to repent and get right, first with God and then with his family.

[Maggie]

I would like to say to the person who wrote the comment about Pastor Dudley keeping his son on check. Let me start of by saying that "you" need to question yourself! Just because Pastor Dudley is a pastor, this does not exclude him or his family from the everyday world and the temptation that is out there! Pastor Dudley and his family are humans such as you and I are.....We are all sinners in this world. We have all sinned in some form or another. If you yourself cannot admit to being a sinner, then you need to question yourself if you really are a Christian. Do not be so quick to throw stones, without looking at yourself first. Why don't you take your Bible out and read John 8:7 When they persisted in questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the person among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Pastor Dudley is a fabulous pastor what he and his family need now is prayer and support, not ridicule.

[Cecelia]

Lets not focus on who's hypocritical. Like the last writer wrote, lets all show grace and pray for the families. Regardless of what the pastor's son did, the pastor's job is to still teach us the word of God. We as family in Christ should not look upon what they did wrong. If it had not been for god's love, these gentlemen would not have learn their lesson. The Lord gives us second chances. Lets all Pray.

[Amanda]

This is unfortunate, but lets show some grace and pray for these men. Regardless of whose these boys are, they are someones son. We all make dumb mistakes, some bigger than others. Imagine what the world would think if they knew EVERYTHING about us. Praise God they were caught, because there is something he is teaching them through this. Imagine if this were your son, or brother, or nephew. Be slow to make judgments on these boys. They did something stupid and will hopefully learn.

we are all human. Grace has been shown to us , lets show some grace and love to these men.

[JD]

I got to Shepherd of the Hills and I find it hypocritical that Pastor Dud is always telling us how to live our lives when he can't even keep his own son in check.

[Tre'Maine]

This is only the tip of the iceberg of the thefts, criminality and money mismanagement at CSUN. Former staff member at CSUN Shirley Bowen is being investigated for money fraud in Student Development, the President is taking lavish trips all aound the world using CSUN funds to pad her resume',
Housing and the Meal Plan execs have stolen thousands of dollars from CSUN students and have not been prosecuted for fear of "bad press" . These losses are passed into the innocent students who pay their bills. A Performing Arts Center exec was busted and left "to seek other opportunities" which is code for he was caught with his hand in the till. And with all these thefts and loss of monies and rampant criminality coming to light, why is the Controller Dr. B. Barker suddenly "retiring"? Shades of ENRON and AIG.

[AB]

Dallas Rutherford was also a standout basketball player at Campbell Hall High School who played with Jrue Holiday, who is now at UCLA. I believe Phannuel Gwebwonyo may be no other than "Nana" Gwebwonyo, who starred at Kennedy High School basketball in the late 1990s and played a role in the movie "Coach Carter" in 2005. All I can say is wow.

[belle]

This is one BIG mistake and it will follow them EVERYWHERE they go....from getting a job to getting an apartment, applying for professional license and so on. These young men should have thought of the long term impact before they acted. Now it's too late...can't take it back. I feel bad for their parents...lots of work raising their children and now this.
Belle

[5wmk666]

Rutherford is the son of Dudley Rutherford, a pastor at the Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch..... So who else can expect to have some decency this day.....

[Stretch]

oh goodness. there goes our season. at least we can prove we are semi-decent without deon and dallas. its gonna be a long year.

[theprideofbs]

Too bad for the program and the rest of the team. What were these guys thinking? Coach Braswell is a class act and I hope he can focus on the rest of the season with the team, the other kids are depending on him. As for Tresvant, he will be missed but now it's buh-bye.