COLUMBUS – Ohio State quarterback Antonio Henton was just beginning his progression on the field and up the depth chart. That path, at least temporarily, has been derailed.
Henton, 20, pleaded not guilty in Franklin County court Tuesday morning to charges of soliciting a prostitute after he was arrested around 8:30 p.m. Monday night blocks from campus. Coach Jim Tressel has suspended the third-string quarterback indefinitely.
“It’s a garden-variety solicitation (charge),” Columbus Chief Prosecutor Lara Baker said. “They were trying to clean up that area. They’ve been having problems with that issue.”
Baker said the maximum penalty for the first-degree misdemeanor is a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, but typically the result is a small fine.
According to court documents, Henton solicited an undercover officer for intercourse for $20. Court records show he only had $19 on him at the time of his processing.
Angel Williams of Columbus posted the $274 bail for Henton. When reached by phone Tuesday, Williams declined comment.
Henton, a native of Fort Valley, Ga., is fourth on the team in rushing with 41 yards. He is 3 of 6 passing for 57 yards and a touchdown in limited time this year. He threw 30 touchdown passes and was named the Georgia Offensive Player of the Year as a senior coming out of Peach County High School in 2005. He was 1 of 4 for 20 yards Saturday against Northwestern, while carrying the ball seven times for 31 yards.
“What’s most disappointing to me is that our guys know deep down what is expected,” Tressel said. “And when we err … that’s disappointing.”
Henton’s arrest snaps a fairly quiet streak at Ohio State after it had encountered numerous legal issues from the fall of 2003 through the spring of ’05. Henton’s arrest is believed to be the first by an Ohio State player since Alex Boone was arrested for drunken driving in April 2006.
“Any time you’re doing what ought to be done, you feel that’s progress,” Tressel said. “And then the moment that you don’t, you feel you’ve regressed. We don’t like to regress.”
Teammates seemed surprised at the allegations.
“He’s a great player with great character,” starting quarterback Todd Boeckman said. “It’s tough for me to see him do something like this.”
Safety Kurt Coleman said he has become close friends with Henton and often gives him rides wherever he needs to go. Henton has his own car and was in it at the time he was arrested.
“The Antonio I know is a great person,” Coleman said. “I’m always there for him.”
The initial charge against Henton was dismissed Tuesday morning because the arresting officer did not sign the complaint. A second charge was then brought against Henton, to which he pled not guilty. He was represented in court by a public defender, although he is expected to retain his own attorney. A court date has not yet been set.
Tressel said the suspension is likely to last at least until the legal issue is resolved.
Joe Bauserman, who spent three seasons playing minor-league baseball, will take Henton’s place on the scout team and on the travel squad. Bauserman will travel to Minnesota this weekend as the third-string quarterback.
The initial plan was to redshirt Bauserman this year. He would only play this year in an emergency situation.
“I think Joe’s really coming along,” Tressel said. “He hadn’t thrown a football for three years, so the first week or so was a little different, and he didn’t look like a guy who threw a 90-mph fastball. Then all of a sudden, when he got his experiences back there, you can see that he’s got a great pop in his arm.”
