Penn State's Theo Johnson Admitted to First-Time Offender Program

The Lions' tight end received ARD after being charged with misdemeanor assault following a February fraternity incident.

Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports

Penn State tight end Theo Johnson was admitted to Centre County's accelerated rehabilitative disposition program after being charged with misdemeanor simple assault stemming from a February fraternity incident.

According to court documents, Johnson was admitted to a six-month ARD program after being charged in April with two misdemeanor counts of assault and criminal mischief. According to the affidavit of probable cause, surveillance video at the fraternity allegedly showed Johnson punching another person following an argument. Police said that Johnson was asked to leave the fraternity because he was not wearing a wristband required for a party. The person Johnson allegedly punched was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center and diagnosed with a concussion, police said. If he successfully completes the ARD program, Johnson is eligible to have the charges expunged.

In Pennsylvania, ARD is a pre-trial intervention program for first-time offenders that prioritizes treatment and rehabilitation. According to a Centre County fact sheet, the "aim of the program is to intervene at an early stage, so that remedial steps can be taken to prevent future incidents of a similar nature." 

Johnson, a junior who has made 16 career starts, is considered among the top returning tight ends in the Big Ten. Penn State coach James Franklin has not discussed this particular situation publicly but said that Johnson has been an offseason leader for the program.

"When you talk about leadership, it’s very obvious to us right now as a staff and the players that it’s really important for Theo to have a significant leadership role this year," Franklin said in early June. "You can see him trying to take on that role and being more vocal compared to how he’s been in the past and how his teammates are receiving that information.

"... We're going to have discipline in this program and that will continue. We’re also going to do the homework on any type of incident and find out what really happened, and then the penalty will align with that. But I’m not going to ever be quick to react until we have all the information."

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