GONZAGA STAR HEYTVELT FACES DRUG TRIAL

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Suspended Gonzaga center Josh Heytvelt is being
charged with felony possession of a controlled substance following his
Feb. 9 arrest, when police said they found hallucinogenic mushrooms in
his car.

According to court documents released Tuesday, police found 33.2 grams
- -- just over an ounce -- of mushrooms inside a plastic ziplock bag in
the back of the Chevrolet Blazer that Heytvelt was driving. Possession
of any amount of illegal mushrooms is a Class C felony.

Heytvelt, 20, and teammate Theo Davis, 21, were arrested in Cheney on
Feb. 9 and booked into Spokane County Jail. They were released the
next day on their own recognizance.

Davis, a redshirt freshman who has not played because of injuries,
will be referred to Cheney municipal court on a misdemeanor charge of
marijuana possession. Police allege they found a partial marijuana
cigarette in Davis's pocket.

If convicted, Heytvelt faces a maximum prison sentence of five years
and a $10,000 fine. But Assistant Spokane County Prosecutor John
Grasso said a typical sentence for a first-time drug offender is six
months or fewer, and the sophomore could be given a lesser sentence if
he agrees to a structured diversion program.

Heytvelt and his attorney will be arraigned sometime in the next two
weeks, Grasso said.

Heytvelt, a 6-foot-11 sophomore center-forward, was the team's second
leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points. He was the leading rebounder,
with 7.7 per game.

After their arrests, coach Mark Few placed the players on indefinite
suspension for breaking team rules. Heytvelt has not played in the
four games since his arrest.

Gonzaga University's position has not changed now that formal charges
have brought against the two students, spokesman Dale Goodwin said
Tuesday.

Final disciplinary action by the university would wait until the legal
process has run its course, Goodwin said.

Dennis Thompson, a Spokane lawyer who represents the pair, was not in
his office Tuesday morning and was unavailable for comment, a
secretary said.