Tarpoff Pleads Guilty, Kicked Off Team

Nick Tarpoff’s career at the University of Missouri is over. That news was all but a formality as he headed into Boone County Court on Wednesday. Tarpoff was expected to plead guilty on a felony gun possession charge, which is what he did. MU policies call for the immediate dismissal of any athlete who pleads guilty to or is found guilty of a felony. Tarpoff got in trouble in February when he accidentally shot himself in the arm. He called police and told them that he was shot in a struggle with a burglar in his home. He later admitted he made the story up. When police came to the house they found an illegal sawed-off shotgun. Tarpoff was offered a plea bargain, which would have held him accountable on misdemeanor charges and would have brought 90 days in jail. He refused that offer, instead trying his chances with a judge, who he hopes will give him probation on the felony charge. As a sophomore, Tarpoff played in nine games, recording 21 tackles and a sack playing defensive end.