UPDATED: Jan. 23, 1:08 a.m.

A former Syracuse University football player pled guilty Wednesday morning to third-degree burglary charges connected to a South Campus robbery last winter.

Markus Pierce-Brewster, an ex-SU defensive lineman, will be sentenced to one year of “interim probation” and won’t see jail time if he upholds the conditions of his probation, acting Onondaga County Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti ruled.

Pierce-Brewster will appear in court March 21 to determine the circumstances of his probation. If he completes the interim probation with no further legal troubles, Pierce-Brewster will see the charges reduced to trespassing, which is a misdemeanor, Brunetti said.

Pierce-Brewster backed out of the same sentence as he prepared to plead guilty to burglary charges on Jan. 13.

“We were just trying to work out the proper language in a fashion that everyone could agree upon,” said Eric Sherwood, Pierce-Brewster’s attorney, after they left Onondaga County Criminal Court Wednesday.

Pierce-Brewster and Davon Walls were arrested and charged with burglary and petit larceny last winter after they were accused of stealing a flat-screen television, an Xbox gaming system and games, and two iPods totaling approximately $950 from an apartment on the 400 block of Winding Ridge Road.

Confusion surrounded the previous plea deal when Pierce-Brewster refused to admit that he willingly acted as a “lookout” when Walls entered the residence and took the electronics.

Pierce-Brewster stood in a navy blue jacket and blue and orange striped tie, tapping his fingers on the stand while Brunetti, Sherwood and a representative of the Onondaga County District Attorney’s office discussed his case. He leaned forward to reach the microphone when he quietly pled guilty.

Pierce-Brewster declined to comment after the hearing.

Sherwood said that Pierce-Brewster plans to live “locally” during the interim probation period.

Walls, also an ex-SU defensive lineman, pled guilty to burglary on Dec. 10. Like Pierce-Brewster, Walls will be sentenced to one year of interim probation. If he upholds the agreement, his sentence will also be reduced to a misdemeanor.

Walls’ next court appearance is set for Feb. 3 at 9 a.m.

Published on January 22, 2014 at 3:56 pm

Contact Jacob: jspramuk@syr.edu