Former football player indicted for robbery

By: Andrew McLemore

Posted: 4/15/08

Former NT student Kevin Wayne Ealey was indicted on five counts of aggravated robbery April 4 in Brenham.

Ealey signed an athletic scholarship with NT after a 2007 graduation from Brenham High School in Brenham. He attended his first semester of classes during fall 2007 and played several games with the football team.

In late September, Ealey dropped out of school and returned to his hometown.

Less than two months later, the Brenham Police Department arrested Ealey, 20, and two other men in connection with the robbery of local restaurant Andrea's Taco Shop.

Two black males entered the establishment about 11:40 p.m. Jan. 8 and demanded money from about 12 people inside, Brenham police said.

Ealey did not respond to e-mails, and repeated attempts to locate him for comment were unsuccessful.

Aaron Scott, 18, carried a shotgun and threatened several customers, taking their wallets, cell phones and other valuables while his accomplice robbed the cash register, police said.

The two men ran about 100 yards before getting in a getaway car driven by Ealey, police said.

Maria Martinez, the owner of the establishment, was unloading goods with her husband and called the police soon after the robbery began.

Sgt. Charles Gaskamp was the first officer to arrive at the scene and said the chase was short.

A coal train running across the street forced Ealey to stop the car after two blocks, Gaskamp said.

Brenham police arrested Ealey and Scott, who was also charged with five counts of aggravated robbery, though the third suspect escaped.

Although Ealey never went into the restaurant, Gaskamp said he is still party to the crimes of the other men.

During the interrogation, Gaskamp said Ealey expressed remorse for what he had done.

"He said, 'I've ruined my football career,'" Gaskamp said.

Gaskamp said Brenham is a small town with a population of about 14,000. and everyone knew Ealey because he was the star football player of Brenham High School in Southeast, Texas.

When Ealey received an athletic scholarship to NT, the story made the sports page of the town newspaper, said Arthur Hahn, the managing editor. Ealey also made the front page because of the robbery.

Stephen Howard of the NT athletic department said he had no comment about Ealey because he is no longer on the football team or a student at NT.