When Bryon Alex Ruffner's former teammates are preparing to hit the court Dec. 10 to battle the Utah State Aggies, another team Ruffner once played for, he'll be in a court of a different kind finding out his punishment for helping to steal $44,000 from a Provo business.
Less than three hours after being charged Friday with one second-degree felony theft count, the Brigham Young University basketball star quietly walked into an almost-empty courtroom and entered a plea of guilty. His attorney arranged the lunch-hour appearance, and only court personnel and a Deseret News reporter were there to hear Ruffner confess.Afterward, Ruffner, 24, left the courthouse from a side door and ran to his attorney's car. He later released a written statement to the press.
"I would like the public to know that I have done something that I know is terribly wrong," he said.
The 6-foot-6 senior forward quit school Thursday after learning that Utah County prosecutors planned to charge him criminally. He was one of only three starters returning to the team's lineup this year. He was the team's second-leading scorer last season, averaging 18.8 points a game and was named to the Western Athletic Conference All-Newcomer team by both media and coaches. The latter also named him honorable mention All-WAC.
Ruffner's crime was part of a larger scheme that bilked more than $250,000 from Angia Communications, a company located in East Bay Business Park that designs and manufactures data communications products for portable computers.
According to a lawsuit filed by the company in August, Joshua T. Kallunki, a former accounts payable clerk for the company, allegedly made over a two-year period 133 fraudulent credit card transfers totaling more than $109,000 to his friends' accounts. Those whose credit cards were credited allegedly paid Kallunki a portion of the money.
Kallunki also allegedly forged the signature of Angia officials on 89 checks that he issued to his friends. On the copies kept by the company, Kallunki listed the checks as being issued to legitimate vendors. His friends cashed the checks and allegedly returned about 75 percent of the amount to Kallunki, keeping the rest.
Ruffner admitted in court that he received $44,000 in Angia checks and credit card transfers, pocketing $11,000 and giving the rest to Kallunki. Ruffner has repaid the $11,000 he obtained for himself.
In his written statement, Ruffner said he went to police and Angia officials three months ago, paid full restitution and disclosed his role before either knew he was involved.
"I have tried to and will continue to do all that I should to rectify this matter," he said.
He said he withdrew from school because he clearly violated the honor code and wants to spare the university as much embarrassment as possible.
"I am very sorry for all who have been hurt by my actions: my family, my friends, my teammates and coaches, Brigham Young University and the company," Ruffner said.
Ruffner played at Provo's Timpview High, averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds a game as a senior, and helped the Thunderbirds to two state championships. The Provo native earned Big West Conference freshman-of-the-year honors at Utah State during the 1990-91 season, averaging 8.8 points and 4.4 rebounds a game in his first year of collegiate competition.
He served an LDS mission to Concepcion, Chile, after his freshman year, and then a back injury forced him to redshirt four games into the 1993-94 season at Utah State.
Ruffner transferred to Utah Valley State College for the 1994-95 season, where he averaged 24.4 points a game as the Wolverines' leading scorer and rebounder. He earned second-team JC All-America honors.
The maximum possible penalty for a second-degree felony is one to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. However, because Ruffner has no past criminal record, he'll likely receive probation and possibly a few days in jail.
Kallunki, 24, Provo, was charged with eight counts of forgery, third-degree felonies, and one count of racketeering, a second-degree felony. Jared K. Ellison, 26, Provo; Charles Hart, North Carolina; and Charles Cashmore, Las Vegas, were charged with one count of theft, a second-degree felony. Jeffery M. Jacobson, 25, Orem, was charged with one count of forgery, a third-degree felony. Patrick Antone, Oregon, was charged with theft, a third-degree felony. All are scheduled to appear in court Nov. 26.