Cal Poly football players’ arraignments postponed

August 25, 2014
Cal Poly  President Jeffrey Armstrong

Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong

Shortly after the arraignment for the five Cal Poly football players accused of multiple felony counts related to the armed robbery of fraternity house in San Luis Obispo on Aug. 10 was continued, President Jeffrey Armstrong said the school is working with law enforcement and prosecutors.

At court Monday, the five players and their attorneys were present. Even so, the judge postponed the arraignments until Sept. 15.

Cameron Akins, 19, of Monrovia; Dominique Alize Love, 19, of Poway; Jake Anthony Brito, 18, of Cypress; Kristaan Sterling Ivory, 20, of Los Angeles; and Cortland Josiah Fort, 20, of Fontana have been charged with conspiracy to commit residential robbery, attempted residential robbery, attempted burglary, and false imprisonment. Akins, who was arrested at the fraternity house, is also charged with resisting arrest through threats or violence.

Following the arraignment continuation, Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong released the following statement:

“Cal Poly continues to work cooperatively both with police as the investigation into the Aug. 10 robbery continues and with prosecutors as the charges connected to this incident are adjudicated.

“Moving forward, we are providing support to the victims in the incident, and we are discussing how best to proceed with our efforts to maintain the health and safety of our campus community.

“I want to reiterate that Cal Poly absolutely will not tolerate illegal drug use and violent, criminal behavior. They run counter to the Mustang Way and the character and integrity we expect of all members of our campus community. They also conflict with our commitment to promote the well-being of all of our students.

“We remain committed to commissioning our own independent investigation once the criminal probe into the Aug. 10 incident ends. And as always, the university will regularly review all student-conduct policies and procedures and constantly look for ways to enhance its education and support programs for students.

“Cal Poly administrators, faculty and staff understand the gravity of our role as stewards and teachers of our students. Student success is our primary mission. That success begins and ends with students’ ability to make choices that will maintain both their own health and welfare and that of their community.”


Loading...
15 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

The only reason this character is involved is to try to lesson the devastating blow to the schools image.


This seems to be the only news source that is reporting this, Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong has NO authority in the Court system and the investigation. Someone is wrong here…


There are a lot of unanswered questions for those not on the “inside”. OK, the ding dong with the gun deserves harsher treatment, and the possible “getaway” driver should be screwed because he was an active, on-the-scene participant. I thought in cases like this, a crime committed by the one applies to his getaway driver, too?


Yes, the frat’s role has to be figured out, as well as the three players who apparently weren’t at the scene. Were they active participants, did they provide the gun, or were they not really active participants in this attempted robbery?


Also unanswered per the previous football player / coach busted with Xanax was why he was let off with no criminal charges, when they had proof he was trying to sell 90 Xanax pills.


I have to wonder … who paid the bail ? Cal Poly ?


Do they have a Bail Fund for gifted athletes and scholars ?


If the bail as reported in the trib was $60 ,000 for four players each and $ 110,000 for one ,


this adds up to $350,000 . Even at ten percent someone had to come up with at least


$ 35,000 cash to pay the bondsman.


I find it more than slightly outrageous that the school has any say in the matter of this case. Criminal activity is clearly shown, a gun was used in the commission of the crime whether fired or not. If it had been any ordinary person of this age they would still be in jail and no amount of discussion would have postponed their arraignment.

When the law is circumvented by position, money and power it negates the effectiveness of the law and creates an environment of “if they can get away with it, why can’t I?”

This is unacceptable. Boycott Cal Poly football games and show the President of Cal Poly this will not be tolerated. A winning team is not worth the cost of blind justice.


What are you saying? CalPoly is cooperating with law enforcement. You seem to imply they are interfering with (“circumventing”) the investigation. I don’t see that by reading the article.


Blame the victim?????????


The robber did not ask for anyone by name as far as we know, and as dumb as this strong armed robbery was, it’s reasonable to assume that he just “heard” or thought that they would have money and/or drugs. We won’t know the facts until actual testimony is given in court–if that ever happens.


And the idea that the fraternity must be at fault because the robber thought they had money and drugs is contrary to our justice system. If that is the thinking, then anyone driving a Mercedes is at fault in a car jacking/robbery for owning or driving someone else’s Mercedes. It’s called “blame the victim”.


We also don’t know who on the football team wanted/needed drugs and how the people arrested who were not at the scene were involved and who the gun was registered to, if it was registered. Who rented the car? Was the car rented for the purpose of this robbery? Did someone put this kid up to robbing the frat house? Or was it his idea?


Since the arraignment was postponed–with no reason given– we can also assume that the powers that be are anxious to sweep this incident under the rug. This is why I would advise the Fraternity boys to get an attorney to represent them. The SLO Police Chief has already made an inappropriate statement to the Tribune. He seems to be the weak sister in this case, with his “boys will be boys” attitude toward a strong armed robbery where his own officers had to get help from the fraternity boys to subdue the robber.


Everyone involved is just lucky no one was shot and killed.


This was a reply to R. Hodin’s comment and should have appeared under it.


If I had reason to believe your Mercedes had drugs in the trunk and I was caught breaking in don’t you think the police would be interested in those drugs? Recall from the original Trib article, that illegal drugs were suspected in the attempted fraternity burglary. That’s what I was basing my original comment on, the original reporting.


I never claimed that the fraternity was at fault, merely that if drugs were suspected, then an investigation of the fraternity may be in order.


It’s time to keep tuned in, as Monty Hall would say “let’s make a deal”.


Are we going to see preferential treatment here in order to save the football program at Cal Poly. There are many people sitting in prison for similar acts. If a deal is made what a disgrace to the judicial system leaving 5 more thugs to run loose in the community.


Postpone a trial, I get. Postpone discovery, I get it. Postpone sentencing, I get it. Postpone an arraignment, whooooa now. I’m thinking Jeffrey got that call from an outside group, if you get my drift. Hey, maybe they can include it in future math curriculum; they could call it the Ferguson equation. Liberals are funny were their narrative not so destructive. California law is clear on this matter, “use a gun, go to prison”. It’ll be entertaining to watch them squirm around this one. Classic.


At least one fundamental question remains unasked by the administration & the prosecution, at least according to media reports to date. This question is perhaps of equal or greater import than any discussion of Cal Poly athletics students’ drug use, or recent arrest.


If a student was armed, with the intention of finding and/or purchasing and/or forcibly taking possession of certain controlled drugs at a fraternity, what drugs did he have reason to believe he would find, and who at the fraternity did he believe would have possession of them?


Seems to me that’s two different cases. When using a gun to forcibly take something that doesn’t belong to you, it doesn’t matter what you are taking. Steal money or jewelry or TVs. It’s the act of stealing. If the victim had illegal drugs, then he victim would be committing a separate crime.


Thanks for the distinction.


Absolutely. Drug houses get robbed because they have drugs, cash, and don’t call the police. People inside also tend to be armed, but that’s another story.


What else could the motivation be for robbing a frat house- empty beer kegs and 20 yr old psychology exams?


There is definitely more to this story