Moorpark’s Crawford Missed Game to Serve Jail Time

Sam Crawford, Moorpark College’s standout sophomore point guard, said he missed last Saturday night’s game against Ventura after being jailed because of a traffic violation that went to warrant.

Crawford said he voluntarily turned himself in on Thursday to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department when he learned that a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

The warrant was made for driving on a suspended license, giving false information to a police officer and failure to appear on a citation, according to Sgt. Ken Warren of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. However, the only charge on which Crawford was found guilty was driving on a suspended license, Warren said.

Crawford said his license was suspended because he had no car insurance.

“I took care of the fine, but I didn’t take care of the court appearance,” said Crawford, who spent five days in jail and was released Monday morning. “I thought if you didn’t appear they would just take the fine.”

Crawford, who was not suspended from the basketball team because of his legal problems, said he has completed his legal obligation.

“I’m done,” said Crawford, who is expected to play Wednesday. “I’m not embarrassed.”

This was actually Crawford’s second arrest of the year for traffic violations. He was booked on Jan. 2 for three outstanding warrants, giving false information to a police officer and driving on a suspended license, according to Bill Montijo, a lieutenant in the Ventura Country Sheriff’s Department.

Crawford said he did not spend any time in jail over the original booking because he was able to make bail.

Without Crawford, a New Mexico State recruit averaging 20.1 points and 13.2 assists, Moorpark lost a Western State Conference Northern Division showdown, 89-68, to Ventura on Saturday.