Ex-Whitman Player Pleads Guilty

One of the five former Whitman High athletes charged in connection with the robbery of a Smoothie King store in Bethesda yesterday pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Juvenile Court to a charge of being an accessory after the fact to a robbery, according to his attorney,Barry Helfand.

Tommy Ashley, 17, was sentenced to probation and 100 hours of community service, Helfand said.

“I’m thrilled the state’s attorney’s office as well as the judge recognized that each person in this crazy event played a different role, and Tom Ashley’s role was the most minimal,” Helfand said.

The Washington Post generally does not name juveniles accused of crimes unless they are charged as adults, as all five of the athletes were last spring. Ashley was the only one of the five who had his case moved from Montgomery County Circuit Court to juvenile court.

Of the other defendants, only the case of Alex Krouskas remains unresolved. Robert Warren pleaded guilty to armed robbery and served 30 days in jail. All-Met linebacker Pat Lazear pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and will be sentenced on Wednesday. A jury convicted Justin Schweiger of the same crime; his sentencing is scheduled for next month.