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Out on bail Teammates offer support to troubled Stevens
Posted: Monday January 24, 2000 06:47 PM
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Felony drug possession charges were filed Monday in suburban St. Louis against New York Rangers forward Kevin Stevens. Meanwhile, teammates and Rangers officials offered their support. Madison County, Ill., Judge Charles Romani set bond at $15,000. Stevens posted 10 percent of that and was released about 4:30 p.m. Monday from the Collinsville, Ill., jail, police said. In addition to the felony charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 1-3 years in jail, Stevens faces misdemeanor charges of soliciting a prostitute and possessing drug paraphernalia. Stevens, 34, has been placed in the NHL's substance abuse program, following his arrest early Sunday at a Collinsville motel hours after the Rangers played in St. Louis. Police said Stevens was with a prostitute, and admitted smoking crack cocaine that morning. "Anybody who knows Kevin knows he's a quality person," Rangers goalie Mike Richter said in Atlanta, where the Rangers were scheduled to play the Thrashers Monday night. "It hits you right in the heart. It's a very tough thing to comprehend." Rangers general manager Neil Smith said he visited with Stevens at the jail Sunday. "I'm not sure how long it will take or when this will be over," Smith said. "I just want him to rejoin his wife and kids. That is what's most important." Smith said Stevens has been replaced on the roster by forward Johan Witehall, recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Smith wasn't sure when Stevens would return to the team. Police found several grams of suspected crack cocaine, various drug paraphernalia and about $3,000 in cash in the motel room. Pamela Velia, 27, of St. Louis, told police Stevens was smoking crack with a glass pipe when she got into a cab with Stevens, according to authorities. She said Stevens gave her $500 and purchased another $500 worth of cocaine from a street dealer in East St. Louis, Ill. The cab driver then took Stevens and the woman to the Travelodge motel, and Stevens paid for a room where the two continued to smoke crack together, police were told. The cab driver, a 50-year-old man, began knocking on the door, and the prostitute feared he had a gun so she called a friend, police said. The friend, a 30-year-old man, showed up and Stevens gave him some crack, police said. Police believe that man is the woman's pimp, and that he is a member of the Vice Lords Street Gang. Police were called when someone reported a disturbance at the motel. Velia said she and Stevens didn't have sex because officers arrived too soon. Velia, the cab driver and the alleged pimp were also charged with felony drug possession Monday, said Stephanee Smith of the state's attorney's office. Stevens' substance abuse and behavioral program will be administered by the NHL and its players' association. The program includes medical assessment and in-residence treatment. "It's just unfortunate this happened," Rangers forward Theo Fleury said. "All I want is for him to get help. All I want is for him to do the right thing. I think he's taken the right step and he'll do the best he can to go from there." Stevens has played little recently, but was in the lineup against St. Louis Saturday night. He has three goals and five assists in 38 games. The three-time All-Star helped Pittsburgh to Stanley Cup titles in 1991 and 1992. He scored 54 goals for Pittsburgh in 1991-92 and had 55 in 1992-93. He has 318 goals and 371 assists in 13 seasons with Pittsburgh, Boston, Los Angeles and New York.
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