After Tulane suspended TJ Finley from its soccer workforce following his arrest this week in New Orleans on a cost of illegally possessing a stolen automobile, the quarterback’s legal professionals alleged he was the sufferer of a web based “rip-off” that led to the ordeal.
Finley’s attorneys, David Courcelle and Scott Stansbury, stated in an announcement that Finley bought a used pickup truck by way of Fb Market from a person who introduced Finley with “each a invoice of sale and registration, giving (him) each motive to consider the acquisition was authentic.”
“Inside three days of the acquisition, Tulane police knowledgeable TJ that the truck had been reported stolen,” the assertion, first reported by a number of retailers Thursday, stated. “TJ appears ahead to persevering with to cooperate totally with the authorities in hopes of recovering the funds he misplaced, bringing the felony(s) to justice, and clearing his identify and fame. TJ is hopeful that this course of will likely be accomplished rapidly in order that he can transfer ahead along with his lecturers and athletic profession.”
In keeping with a court docket docket, Finley was booked Wednesday into the Orleans Parish Jail on a cost of “unlawful possession of stolen issues” price greater than $25,000. He advised authorities that he purchased the truck just lately, and has since been launched on bond, per a number of reviews. He has a court docket date set for June 1.
Tulane indefinitely suspended Finley on Thursday “pending the result of the case.”
“Attributable to federal legal guidelines governing pupil privateness, we is not going to disclose any further data concerning the coed, together with data associated to disciplinary proceedings,” the college stated in an announcement.
Tulane coach Jon Sumrall addressed the state of affairs with reporters Thursday, saying, “When issues occur off the sector, it’s unlucky.
“And I’ll let the (faculty’s) assertion say for what it’s, however when guys make errors, then they should have accountability,” he stated.
Tulane marks the fifth collegiate cease for Finley, a multi-time switch from Ponchatoula, La. He spent the 2024 season at Western Kentucky — the place he performed within the first three video games earlier than an ankle damage — following stints at LSU, Auburn and Texas State. He’s handed for six,128 yards and 37 touchdowns in 34 profession video games, and had been competing in spring apply to be a starter for Tulane.
(Picture of TJ Finley throwing a move (proper): Will McLelland / USA Right this moment by way of Imagn Photos)
