Jason Berryman will soon be released from jail, as a judge has ruled to reduce the former ISU football player’s sentence for good behavior.

Berryman, who has been in the Story County Jail since Aug. 4, 2004, will be released Monday, 42 days earlier than scheduled.

“I am looking forward to visiting with him next week,” said ISU football coach Dan McCarney.

McCarney said he evaluates each player at the end of spring practice.

“I will interview all 100 of my players and then include Jason Berryman in those interviews,” he said.

Berryman was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree theft last August. But he pleaded guilty on Nov. 8 to serious misdemeanor assault and felony first-degree theft.

He was given a 300-day jail sentence, two years of probation and was fined.

Berryman was accused of punching Jeffrey Kemble, junior in health and human performance, and stealing $4 from him. He was also accused of stealing a cell phone from Thomas Peters, senior in mechanical engineering.

According to online court records, Story County Judge Steve Van Marel filed the paperwork to reduce Berryman’s sentence Friday. Berryman has requested early release twice, most recently on Dec. 31 in the form of a handwritten letter to Judge William Pattinson.

“I am going to sit down with Jason soon. He is going to go home soon and talk with his family and get with his relatives back in Houston,” McCarney said.

Berryman was the 2003 Most Valuable Player for the ISU football team and 2003 Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Berryman’s lawyer, Joseph Cahill, declined to comment on his client’s situation.

Pete Englin, dean of students, also declined to comment on whether Berryman might return to Iowa State as a student.