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Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Gator Grad Attorney Accused of Having Stolen FSU National Championship Trophy

From the Democrat.

A Tallahassee attorney who had been charged with hiding a stolen Florida State University trophy has been disciplined by the Florida Supreme Court.

Jason Paul Rojas has been suspended for 60 days, according to a Monday news release from the Florida Bar.

"We want to hold the attorneys that are practicing law in Florida to the highest possible standards," Creston Nelson-Morrill, spokeswoman for the Florida Bar, said.

Rojas did not return phone and e-mail requests for an interview.

The 2002 graduate of the University of Florida's College of Law was arrested in 2005 and charged with dealing in stolen property, a felony, for keeping an FSU national football championship trophy at his house after it was stolen in 2004. He entered a diversion program in 2006.
The diversion program is intended for first-time, non-violent offenders. People who go through it don't plea and their case is dropped afterward. The program can include probation, supervision, fees, reimbursements, community service, jail or work days.

According to FSU police, John Piowaty Jr., a former teammate of Rojas' on the UF intramural water polo team, stole two crystal footballs from Moore Athletic Center June 20, 2004, while he was competing in the Sunshine State Games.

Rojas was not accused of stealing the crystal footballs, which mark the 1993 and 1999 championship seasons and have been valued from $7,500 to $30,000. But he kept one, turning it over to police after Piowaty admitted to stealing them.

Rojas was employed by the state Public Service Commission at the time of his arrest, but was placed on administrative leave afterward. He resigned in March 2006. He is the son of former state Rep. Luis Rojas. A Tallahassee attorney who had been charged with hiding a stolen Florida State University trophy has been disciplined by the Florida Supreme Court.

Jason Paul Rojas has been suspended for 60 days, according to a Monday news release from the Florida Bar.

"We want to hold the attorneys that are practicing law in Florida to the highest possible standards," said Creston Nelson-Morrill, spokeswoman for the Florida Bar.

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