By Ryan Taylor
Two BYU football players were suspended for one game this season for their run-ins with the law during the summer.
Coach Bronco Mendenhall suspended Manase Tonga and Terrance Hooks for the team''s season-opener against Arizona.
Tonga, one of BYU''s running backs, pleaded guilty Thursday to running a stop sign, a Class C misdemeanor, and giving false information to police, a Class A misdemeanor. The third charge, driving without registration, was dismissed.
In a news conference Wednesday, Mendenhall said Tonga would return after his legal matters were settled. Tonga was fined $232 due Sept. 1, the same day as the opening game.
On July 7 Tonga was pulled over by Provo police for running a stop sign. The situation turned messy when Tonga gave police a bogus name. After confessing to using a false name, the police found that Tonga''s registration was expired and that he had a $207 warrant out for his arrest. The warrant was for a previously unpaid traffic violation.
Hooks, a linebacker, appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded guilty to an amended charge of criminal trespassing - reduced from a second-degree felony to Class A misdemeanor - and two counts of criminal mischief - amended from a Class A to Class B misdemeanors.
Not only were the charges amended but also the burglary charge - a second-degree felony - was dismissed.
'It is a fair resolution,' said Danny Frazier, Hooks attorney.
Hooks was sentenced to a year of probation, 15 hours of work diversion, a $740 fine and restitution costs. The restitution costs are for the damage he caused when he broke down two doors in an apartment building after one of the residents allegedly hit Hooks'' girlfriend with a water balloon.
In the news conference Wednesday, Mendenhall expressed his desire to keep both Tonga and Hooks on the team.
Last season Tonga averaged 4.5 yards a carry with 197 total yards and 4 touchdowns, according to BYU statistics.
Hooks played in 12 of the Cougars'' 13 games last season. He was credited with 18 tackles, including 10 solo and eight assisted stops, according to BYU statistics.