Ex-Vol Richardson pleads guilty to attempted robbery

Former University of Tennessee football player Nu'Keese Richardson pleaded guilty this morning in Knox County Criminal Court to one count of attempted robbery.
Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz placed Richardson on pre-trial diversion and three years probation as part of a plea agreement. If Richardson stays out of further legal trouble, the charge can be dismissed.
Richardson and former teammates Mike Edwards and Janzen Jackson were charged with attempted armed robbery last year. The charges against Jackson were dismissed.
"Basically, I've learned my lesson about what happens when you make stupid mistakes," Richardson said after the court appearance with his attorney Bruce Poston. "I do not want to ever be in a predicament like this again."
Richardson is enrolled at Hampton University in Virginia and begins classes Tuesday. He has to be a full-time student or employed during the probation.
Richardson, Edwards, Jackson and fellow UT student Marie Lynn Montmarquet were charged with attempted armed robbery after a botched holdup Nov. 12 at the Pilot convenience store on Cumberland Avenue.
Knoxville police said the players tried to hold up three men outside the store around 1:45 a.m., only to be shown empty wallets and offered a cheeseburger.
All three players were suspended from the team, and Richardson and Edwards were later dismissed by coach Lane Kiffin.
The attempted armed robbery charges were later dropped against Jackson, who was reinstated to the team, and Montmarquet, who was driving the car. She still faces possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia charges.
Prosecutors reviewed all evidence, including more than 10 hours of surveillance video and taped interviews, which "failed to show (Jackson or Montmarquet) had prior knowledge that the attempted robbery was going to take place and were unaware something had occurred until after they pulled out of the Pilot store," Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols wrote in a news release.