Cal State Northridge coach’s son is sentenced

The 22-year-old son of Cal State Northridge’s basketball coach, along with a 23-year-old Northridge basketball player and another man, pleaded no contest Thursday to burglary and grand theft stemming from a theft at Best Buy.

Jeffrey Robert Braswell, son of Coach Bobby Braswell, pleaded no contest to five felony counts, including one count of second-degree commercial burglary, three counts of grand theft over $400 and one count of identity theft, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeff Stodel.

Braswell pleaded open to the court, meaning it was not part of a negotiated plea. He was immediately sentenced by San Fernando Superior Court Judge Barbara Scheper to three years’ formal probation and ordered to complete 300 hours of Caltrans service.

Two co-defendants, Northridge basketball player Deon Tresvant, 23, and Phannuel Gbewonyo, 28, also pleaded no contest to one felony count each of second-degree commercial burglary and grand theft over $400.

Scheper immediately reduced their felony convictions to misdemeanors. They were placed on three years of summary probation. Each must complete 300 hours of Caltrans service.

Braswell, who worked at the Best Buy in Porter Ranch, logged onto a cash register on two occasions by using the password of an employee who was not working on Dec. 1, 2008, and again on New Year’s Day. Braswell allowed three friends -- Tresvant, Gbewonyo and Dallas Rutherford, 19 -- to check out merchandise without paying. Rutherford pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier.

-- Richard Winton