Robbery suspects face more charges

Charleston County investigators plan to file criminal charges today against two former Citadel football players and another man in a violent home invasion on James Island, authorities said.

Sheriff's detectives are seeking warrants to charge former Bulldogs quarterback Miguel Starks, former player Reggie Rice and recent College of Charleston freshman Stephen Francois in the Feb. 24 break-in on Woodland Shores Road, sheriff's Maj. John Clark said.

All three will be charged with first-degree burglary, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, Clark said. The suspects, in jail in connection with another robbery, are expected to have bail hearings on the new charges at 2 p.m., he said.

The James Island hold-up occurred at the home of former Citadel cadet Herbert Joseph Butler III. He reportedly was cooking steaks when two masked gunmen forced their way inside his home. The gunmen bound Butler and a woman with duct tape and rifled through the house, stealing electronics and his bank card, deputies said. One of the intruders also sexually assaulted Butler's female friend, a report states.

Clark had no immediate answer as to why no sexual assault charges are being filed today.

College of Charleston freshman Sasha Gaskins, 18, was charged last week in the same break-in. Gaskins, who is Francois' girlfriend, is accused of helping the gunmen get inside by knocking on Butler's door and pretending her car had broken down, according to arrest affidavits.

Starks, 19; Rice, 22; and Francois, 20, also are accused of robbing assistant Citadel football coach Joshua Harpe at gunpoint after forcing their way into his West Ashley apartment Feb. 27. Gaskins is charged as an accessory in that crime, accused of luring Harpe outside with a telephone call claiming that her car had broken down.

The four suspects were arrested that same day and have been in the county jail ever since.

Starks is no longer enrolled at The Citadel, school officials said. Francois and Gaskins have been banned from the College of Charleston, and Francois' lawyer said his parents were withdrawing him from the school.

Chris Skipper, Starks' attorney, declined to comment on the new charges but again asked that the community withhold judgment on his client until all of the facts are known.

Francois' lawyer, Peter David Brown, said the new charges are "appropriate based on the thoroughness of the investigation and the cooperation of the defendants."

Reach Glenn Smith at gsmith@postandcourier.com or 937-5556.