Smith, Tucker Convicted for Bilking Sears

Keith Smith and Jason Tucker, former standout football players at Newbury Park High, have been convicted of embezzlement for bilking their employer out of more than $2,500 in pay.

Smith and Tucker falsified time cards from January to May 1995. Smith was paid $1,671.24 and Tucker $873.95 for hours they never worked at Sears in Thousand Oaks.

Smith and Tucker pleaded no contest to charges of embezzlement, a misdemeanor, and were sentenced to three years probation and 15 days of community service. They were ordered to repay the money, said Ventura County Deputy District Attorney Steve Phillips.

Phillips said Sears security officials notified police after their investigation. Smith and Tucker were arrested May 19. They were arraigned on the charges and sentenced June 15.

“They made a mistake,” said Marshall Graves, an attorney for Smith and Tucker. “They recognized they did something wrong and they paid restitution.”

Smith had no comment and Tucker did not return phone calls.

Smith, a quarterback, and Tucker, a receiver, helped the Panthers to a 14-0 record and a Southern Section Division III title in 1993.

Smith graduated in 1994 as the state’s all-time leading passer after throwing for 4,244 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior. Tucker had 75 catches for 1,349 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior.

Smith initially gave up a football scholarship to Arizona because the Detroit Tigers picked him in the fifth round of the 1994 baseball draft and paid him $200,000 to sign. After one season in the minors, though, Smith decided he wanted to pursue a college football career and gave up baseball. He returned the $200,000 to the Tigers.

Smith has since committed to play football at Arizona.