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Illinois forward Darius Paul pleads guilty to underage drinking

Derek Thompson, Darius Paul

Eastern Michigan’s Derek Thompson (5) pressures Western Michigan’s Darius Paul (24) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Mid-American Conference tournament, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Cleveland. Western Michigan won 70-55. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

AP

One day after it was announced that he would be suspended for the entire 2014-15 season, Illinois sophomore forward Darius Paul pleaded guilty to underage drinking in Champaign (Ill.) County Circuit Court. Paul’s charge of obstructing an officer was dropped as part of a plea agreement, and his sentence is a year of court supervision and a $325 fine.

While the legal issue that served as the final straw for head coach John Groce is now resolved, according to the Chicago Tribune it also provided insight into what the “multiple transgressions” that led to the decision to suspend Paul were.

Paul admitted to police after his arrest that he had been drinking. He also told the police that he had failed two drug tests administered by the team in the fall after using marijuana, Beckett said.

According to the Tribune the next step for the family is to discuss what Paul will do having already sat out one season following his transfer from Western Michigan. The suspension would mean that Paul would sit out a second consecutive season.

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