UT attempted robbery victims have faced charges of their own

Updated: 7:21 PM Nov 17, 2009

We're also learning new details about the victims in the alleged attempted robbery case that put three UT players behind bars. The victims: Corey Zickefoose, Corey Smith, and Benjamin Everett are no strangers to police in Blount County.

Posted: 6:26 PM Nov 17, 2009
Reporter: Stephen McLamb
Email Address: Stephen.McLamb@wvlt-tv.com

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MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- We're also learning new details about the victims in the alleged attempted robbery case that put three UT players behind bars.

The victims: Corey Zickefoose, Corey Smith, and Benjamin Everett are no strangers to police in Blount County.

Just being a victim in this case may put one of the men behind bars, and why another says he'll never drop the charges.

Just being on the strip at 2 am is a problem for Corey Zickefoose.

He's on probation on a drug and theft conviction.

And his parole officer says she'll try to revoke his probation for violating his curfew.

"All three of us could have got hurt or died, or injured in a very serious way," says Benjamin Everett.

Everett says he plans to testify against the three football players he claims pulled a gun on he and his two friends last week.

But Everett says he disagrees with what his friends think about the suspects role as players.

"They should be able to play. I didn't think they should play, not after something like that," says Everett.

While the players face charges, so too have the victims.

"Everybody's done things in their past when they were kids that they regret."

For Everett, he's facing charges from September for leaving the scene of an accident.

Corey Smith was convicted in August of public intoxication.

But Corey Zickefoose was convicted in September 2008 for possession of marijuana.

This year, January brought a conviction of public intoxication.

March a theft conviction.

August, driving without a license.

Zickefoose now faces charges of unlawful consumption from last month.

A record not even Everett claims he knew.

"Uh, I did not know that about Zickefoose at the time," says Everett.

And there's another problem.

Zickefoose's probation officer says when he was the victim of the attempted robbery on the strip around 1:45 am as Knoxville Police say, he also violated his court ordered curfew.

She'll cite that as a reason his probation should be revoked.

Everett, for his part feels his charges do not discredit him as a witness.

"They don't cross paths. Those circumstances don't have any parallels at all," says Everett.

Nor will it keep him from seeking justice.

"If the other side wants to try and play that angle they can but it's not going to deter me," says Everett.

Zickafoose is due in court December 15th.

Attempts to reach him and Corey Smith were unsuccessful.

As far as Benjamin Everett, he says he's fighting those leaving the scene charges.

He says he only drove an additional one hundred feet to pull into a parking lot after his accident.

He is due in court January 25th.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Pete Location: California on Nov 20, 2009 at 05:44 PM

OMG! Is this actually neccasry?ohh, So your saying they "deserved it" in this article? LOL. What was the purpose of this article. No metter who it is, if anyone Holds even a "water gun "up to anyone and try to take money..Thats Intent! JAILTIME! CYA.Just to think of ALL these players had at their fingerstips and to THROW IT AWAY, for change in an ashtray!LOL! A half eaten burger just cost you EVERYTHING! A 60k scholorship, Aids to take your tests,Free Room And Food for 5 years, Women throwing themselves at you, A possible NFLfuture AND Future in Business because of your stature around the area! I didnt think ANYONE was that Dumb! O well....

Posted by: The Truth Location: Doesn't Matter on Nov 19, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Wanda, if Corey Smith is your nephew and you care about him, get him some help! He was on tv/internet scratching like he was on some sorta something. He's young enough to turn his life around. He needs your help.

Posted by: rick Location: maryville on Nov 18, 2009 at 07:44 AM

Why the heavy attention on the victims' backgrounds? Has the same scrutiny been applied to that of the criminals'? If the trigger had been pulled and the three had died, would it have made a difference? How bout a background check on the crooks? And if they have records as bad or worse than the victims (since that seems to be the standard), how about a full scale investigation of UT recruitment efforts importing criminals into our town and the firing of those responsible?

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