Former Rutgers Football Players Plead Not Guilty to Home Invasion Charges

Two former Rutgers football players, defensive back Dre Boggs and wide receiver Tejay Johnson, pleaded not guilty to home invasion charges in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

The Associated Press reported the news on 20-year-old Boggs, 23-year-old Johnson and another student, Jianan Chen, 19, who allegedly planned the robberies. Jim Donohue, Boggs' attorney, stated that the alleged victims were drug dealers, and he is also seeking to reduce his client's current $600,000 bail.

Assistant Middlesex County prosecutor Christopher Kuberiet claimed that knives, a hammer, a baseball bat and a revolver were used by the ex-football players to carry out the robberies. One of the victim's cellphones allegedly had Johnson's fingerprints on it.

"These were brutal, violent and aggressive home invasions where people should be sacrosanct," said Kuberiet.

In all there were allegedly three home invasions and an attack on a 19-year-old student that left him with a broken jaw, per myCentralNewJersey.com's Ryan Dunleavy. Johnson is thought to be involved in all three home invasions, while Boggs is suspected in two of them.

According to the prosecution, per the AP, the players are also said to have taken photos of the crimes they committed and sent incriminating text messages.      

Boggs and Johnson are being charged with weapons offenses in addition to robbery and conspiracy. The Scarlet Knights dismissed those two along with three other players last week, all of whom were previously suspended.

Johnson's career was already cut short by injuries, but Boggs is a rising sophomore who made one start and appeared in 10 games last season.