WSU's Hicks gets 45-day sentence

COLFAX -- Xavier Hicks, the projected starter at free safety on the Washington State football team, has been sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading guilty to third-degree theft and third-degree attempted assault.

Bill Druffel, senior deputy prosecutor for Whitman County, said Hicks' jail sentence will be reduced to 30 days "if there are no problems" caused by Hicks during his time in jail. Druffel said Hicks also must pay nearly $2,350 in fines, court costs and restitution.

Hicks pleaded guilty to stealing a credit card and pouring rubbing alcohol on the contact lenses of then-teammate and roommate Grady Maxwell. Hicks originally was charged with second-degree felonies in both cases, but Druffel said the charges were reduced to gross misdemeanors after Hicks agreed to plead guilty.

Maxwell, whose eyes might have been damaged if he had used his contacts after they had soaked in rubbing alcohol, did not use the lenses after noticing they were bloated. Maxwell, citing chronic injuries, has since left the football team.

Hicks served a team suspension over the winter. Coach Paul Wulff said Hicks was required to perform undisclosed duties before he was permitted to rejoin the team for spring workouts.

Hicks is one of at least five WSU football players (four from California, one from suburban Spokane) known to have been arrested since Wulff was hired as head football coach in December.

The only player besides Hicks known to have been sentenced is reserve tight end Trevor Mooney. He received a 12-month deferred sentence after pleading guilty to being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Wulff has repeatedly said the Cougars suffered from a lack of discipline under former head coach Bill Doba.