MVP charged with criminal mischief

Krista Driscoll

ISU defensive end Jason Berryman was charged with criminal mischief in the fifth degree after police received a complaint that he punched the window out of a woman’s car on May 27.

Berryman, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and ISU Most Valuable Player for the 2003 football season, was involved in an argument with LaLisa Smith, senior in finance, and punched the driver’s side rear window of her 1996 Pontiac Sunfire causing it to break, according to the complaint filed with the Ames Police Department.

“He’s been suspended consistent with the Iowa State student-athlete code of conduct,” said Tom Kroeschell, associate athletic director for media relations.

The code states that if a student-athlete violates a law involving a violent action (including destruction of property), that athlete will be suspended from intercollegiate athletics until the charges have been addressed.

Kroeschell said Berryman’s future status with the ISU football team would be determined pending the outcome of the charges.

“First we have to let the legal process run its course,” Kroeschell said.

The complaint said the damage to the window was valued at less than $200.

Head coach Dan McCarney was unavailable for comment.

In his freshman season, Berryman was second on the team with 110 tackles in 11 starts with the Cyclones. He was also second in tackles for loss with nine and forced one fumble for Iowa State.He tied with linebacker Brandon Brown for most sacks with three on the season.

Berryman’s only previous court charges in Iowa are for speeding and failure to have a valid driver’s license, according to Iowa court records.