UCLA’s Miller, Walker Sentenced to Probation : Jurisprudence: The university will determine whether the defensive starters are allowed to play football this season.

The college football future of nose guard Bruce Walker and linebacker Jamir Miller now rests in the hands of the UCLA administration and athletic department.

Walker, a senior, and Miller, a junior, pleaded no contest Monday in Municipal Court in Santa Monica to charges of receiving stolen property.

They have been under suspension from football since their arrest on April 15, with that suspension subject to review by the university upon completion of their court proceedings.

Miller, 19, from El Cerrito in Northern California, was sentenced Monday to three years’ probation, a two-year suspended sentence in the Los Angeles County jail, 100 hours of community service and restitution for two misdemeanor counts.

Walker, 22, of Compton, received the same sentence, except for the suspended jail term, for his plea on a felony count.

A third defendant, UCLA student Raul Martinez, also received probation.

“The reason for the difference (between Miller’s misdemeanor charges and a felony count against Walker) is that Martinez told police Miller didn’t have anything to do with it,” said Richard Dunn, the prosecuting attorney.

Theft charges on the merchandise have not been filed.

For Walker, there was relief in the resolution of the case.

“It’s been a real burden, and now it’s over with,” he said of the time spent in the judicial process, which began with their arrest after police searching their West Los Angeles apartment found about $13,000 in stereo and computer equipment that was missing from university dormitories.

“I just want to go back and play football, but I won’t know whether I can until I talk to Coach (Terry) Donahue.”

Miller could not be reached.

UCLA athletic officials withheld comment pending a decision by the university administration. They also declined to speculate on sanctions the school might levy.

Miller and Walker are forecast as starters for the Bruins and both are in the recently released media guide, though neither is on the tentative depth chart because of the uncertainty of their availability.

Miller was one of the nation’s top high school linebackers and led UCLA in sacks with six and tackles for losses with 11 in 1992.

Walker, a 240-pound running back and linebacker while at Dominguez High, has grown into a 318-pound nose guard who is the strongest player on the team. He started the final six games of the 1992 season.

Trouble began for the two after last season when, in separate incidents, both were arrested on concealed-weapons charges.

In each case, law enforcement officials agreed to drop charges if the two players were not arrested for two years.

UCLA officials suspended the players after their weapons arrests, but reinstated both for spring football practice.

Authorities reinstated the weapons charges with the April arrest. On July 26, a South Bay Municipal Court judge sentenced Miller to a $950 fine and two years’ probation during which he cannot possess a weapon. On June 17, a Beverly Hills Municipal Court judge sentenced Walker to a $675 fine and 24 months without a weapon.