close

Big hit for football standout

3 min read
article image -

Shai McKenzie’s football career has taken another hit.

McKenzie, a running back for Virginia Tech and Washington High School graduate, was charged Monday with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to a Christianburg, Va., police spokeswoman.

Virginia Tech officials declined to comment pending an investigation, but according to Bryan Johnston, assistant director for athletic communications, McKenzie, 19, was suspended indefinitely from all football-related activities.

On Feb. 27, investigators with Christianburg Police Department executed a search warrant for DNA from McKenzie and Devin Gavion, 18, a Virginia Tech student, after an alleged incident with two female minors at a home in Christianburg, which is near Virginia Tech’s main campus. Results from DNA tests are pending.

McKenzie, who is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee suffered during the Hokies’ 35-17 win over Western Michigan Sept. 27, was processed at Montgomery Regional jail and was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.

Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a class 1 misdemeanor and carries with it a potential jail sentence of 12 months and a fine up to $2,500.

“He has always had tremendous character,” Wash High head football coach Mike Bosnic said. “He’s always been a great role model and an excellent student. All of those things. It’s a shock. I really hope for the best for him. It’s out of character.”

According to a search warrant filed by Montgomery County Circuit Court last week, investigators spoke to two juvenile females aged 14 and 15 years old, who revealed they allegedly met two adult males using social media.

The two juveniles allegedly arranged a meeting at the home in Christianburg on or about Feb. 15 and had sexual intercourse with the two men, who they later identified as McKenzie and Gavion. Four condoms were recovered from the residence where one of the juveniles stated she placed them.

Gavion was charged with one count of felony carnal knowledge of a child between the ages of 13 and 15, and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He is currently being held at Western Virginia Regional jail and, if convicted, could face up to 10 years in prison and would be required to register for life as a sex offender.

McKenzie ended his high school career with 4,856 yards, the most in Wash High program history. He was ranked the 24th best running back in the class of 2014 by Rivals.com and was rated a four-star recruit.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today