On Sept. 18, Castleton State College’s wide receiver and former basketball player, Mark Comstock, was arrested and charged for his involvement in a string of retail thefts from Dick’s Sporting Goods in Rutland Town, according to a Vermont State Police press release.

Comstock, 22, of Rutland, is one of six Castleton football players suspended from the program for their alleged association with the thefts, the release stated.

“I know him well. I know his family. They are very good people,” Castleton State College President Dave Wolk said. “These are good kids that made a very bad decision.”

Three of the suspended players have not been named by the school and will remained unnamed until the state police ask for confirmation, said Wolk.

“These suspensions came shortly after State Police arrested Brandon Boyle and George Busharis on Sept. 10, 2013,” the release read.

Wolk said because the accused are football players, interest in the story is heightened due to the perceptions of football and athletics in our culture.

The State Police release states that Busharis is being charged with multiple counts of retail theft and Boyle is facing embezzlement charges.

“I feel heartbroken that it happened,” Wolk said pausing in between words showing his grief and devastation. 

According to State Police, Comstock is set to appear in court on Nov. 19. Boyle and Busharis are set to appear before the court Oct. 14 and 28.

Also Wednesday, hundreds of The Spartan newspapers containing news of Boyle’s and Busharis’ arrests were removed from the racks across campus and thrown away.

“I’m terribly disappointed in what transpired. I have great respect for The Spartan and all the students who work as volunteers to make it the best college newspaper I know. And every year The Spartan keeps getting better and better. Frankly the reporting in The Spartan was very balanced and responsible,” Wolk said.

He said that Public Safety officers are investigating the situation and those students involved will be held accountable.

This is a lesson in freedom of the press. This is a lesson in disagreeing without being disagreeable. This is a lesson in civility and respect,” Wolk said. “Just as the students involved in an off-campus incident unconnected to the college will learn a lesson, so too will the students who thought they were defending them, but who instead made the situation all that much more challenging, for all of us.”

 Emails to Busharis, Boyle and Comstock have gone unreturned.