Three members of the 2022 Iowa State University football team — Hunter Dekkers, Jake Remsburg, and Dodge Sauser — have accepted plea deals in their sports betting violation cases. The plea deals were announced Wednesday by Mark E. Weinhardt, the lawyer representing the trio.
The three athletes were facing charges of tampering with records related to their investigations. Those charges were replaced with underage gambling charges, the statement from Weinhardt said.
The new charge carries a fine of $645 for each individual. The previous charge could have carried up to a two-year prison sentence.
“We are happy that this outcome frees Hunter, Jake, and Dodge to focus on the educational and eligibility aspects of this matter,” Weinhardt’s statement said. “They plan to pursue the sport they love and the careers they envision for themselves.”
Iowa kicker Aaron Blom and former Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen also recently took plea deals with a similar $645 penalty, according to KCCI.
NCAA penalties
Dekkers, a quarterback, was one of the most prominent players involved in the sports betting malfeasance that has recently plagued Iowa and Iowa State.
The Des Moines Register broke the news of Dekkers’ violation, in which he allegedly placed 26 wagers on Cyclones sporting events, including betting on his team’s 2021 football game against Oklahoma State. Dekkers was the backup quarterback for the matchup with the Cowboys.
According to the complaint, Dekkers placed over 300 bets from a DraftKings account that totaled at least $2,799. He placed the wagers while under 21, with his parents allegedly helping him bet.
The NCAA hasn’t publicly announced Dekkers’ eligibility status, but wagering on your own team comes with the possibility of permanent eligibility loss. He didn’t participate in fall camp, but he is still listed on Iowa State’s roster.
Sauser, an offensive lineman who is no longer a member of the Iowa State football team, also allegedly placed a few bets on Cyclone games. Remsburg, an offensive lineman, recently returned to practice for the team and is expected to serve a six-game suspension.
Other violators
A number of other current and former Iowa and Iowa State athletes, including Jirehl Brock and Eyioma Uwazurike, still have pending charges.
Brock, a standout running back for the Cyclones, allegedly wagered more than $10,000 on various sporting events. He left the football team about two weeks ago.
Uwazurike, a member of the Denver Broncos, was recently charged with identity theft related to his betting violations.
