Dion Sims enters plea in laptop theft ring

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DETROIT -- A Michigan State football player has pleaded guilty to receiving and concealing stolen property in the theft of laptop computers from several Detroit Public Schools.

The Wayne County prosecutor's office said Dion Sims entered his plea Thursday in circuit court. He was allowed to remain free on bond and is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 6.

Sims could qualify for a break for first-time offenders that would clear his record, according to The Detroit News. The deal calls for Sims to cooperate with investigators and give "truthful testimony" against others charged in the scheme.

Sims is one of 10 men charged following an investigation into the theft of 104 laptops valued at $158,000. Authorities say the computers were sold online and to acquaintances.

"He did not buy the computers or sell them," said Sims' lawyer, Steve Fishman, according to The Detroit News. "He pled guilty to being the middleman."

"This isn't because he's an athlete," Fishman said of the plea deal, according to the report. "Anybody in his situation, with his age, his clean record and the cooperation he has already given the prosecution is entitled to get this break."

The 19-year-old sophomore from Detroit has been suspended indefinitely from team-related activities.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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