Ex-OSU football player pleads guilty

Staff report

WARREN

Van DeCree, 59, of Tod Avenue Northwest, a former All-American defensive end for The Ohio State University football team in 1973 and 1974, has pleaded guilty to six drug charges and worker’s compensation fraud.

DeCree, a Warren Western Reserve High School graduate, will be allowed to take part in the treatment-in-lieu-of-conviction program, meaning the charges will be dismissed if he successfully completes a one-year drug treatment program.

If he fails to complete the program, he could spend several years in prison.

DeCree entered his plea Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court before Judge Peter Kontos.

DeCree pleaded guilty to felony cocaine possession and five felony counts of deception to obtain a dangerous drug (Vicodin), as well as misdemeanor worker’s compensation fraud.

Police charged DeCree with cocaine possession Jan. 5 after a traffic stop on Atlantic Street Northwest near Mahoning Avenue for failing to use his headlights at night.

The officer determined that DeCree was driving on a suspended driver’s license and placed him under arrest.

While searching DeCree, the officer found two small bags of suspected crack cocaine in his pants pocket, police said.

He used deception to obtain Vicodin in bulk amounts from October 2010 through early 2011, according to DeCree’s indictment.