UCSB Basketball Player Charged with Trespassing, Vandalism

A UCSB men’s basketball player has been charged with trespassing and vandalism following his arrest September 29.

Holt Dunlap, a walk-on guard in his first season with the Gauchos, was arrested around 10:30 p.m., not long after the Mac Miller show at the Santa Barbara Bowl. According to police, a resident in the 1100 block of North Milpas Street was watching television when he and his girlfriend heard a large crash through an open window. He walked out the front door and quickly checked around with a flashlight but didn’t see anything, the resident told police. As he closed the door he heard a loud bang on the wall of the room where his two kids were sleeping. He ran outside again, and saw Dunlap taking off from the side of the house.

Yelling, “You picked the wrong motherfucker to mess with!” the resident chased after Dunlap. The man threw his flashlight at Dunlap, who then turned up a driveway and began to jump fences, the resident told police. At this point the man returned home to check on his kids.

When police arrived, they noticed plants strewn around the property, and that an 80-pound concrete planter in the shape of a goose had been removed from its spot in the yard. They found it leaning against the side of the house with damage and chipped paint, leading the police to believe it had been thrown there.

Shortly thereafter, officers found Dunlap four blocks away. The resident was taken to the scene, and he positively identified Dunlap. Police said muddy footprints at the scene matched his shoes, as well. Dunlap told police he was on the property with friends but that he wasn’t responsible for the damage.

Dunlap’s case was in court Wednesday, but it has been continued to January 28. His court date came the day after the District Attorney’s Office announced it was filing charges against another UCSB athlete, Peter McGlynn, a soccer player who shoved a referee at the conclusion of Sunday’s match.

It’s likely that, if Dunlap can come up with the money to pay for the damage, his charge will be reduced to an infraction, which is common in these situations.

This is Dunlap’s first season with the Gauchos. During the 2009-2010 season, Dunlap averaged seven minutes and 0.9 points per game for Whittier College. He also played a year at Fresno City College and was a member of their California Community College Athletic Association Championship team. His father, Mike Dunlap, is the first year head coach of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.

Attempts to reach Dunlap, who’s 22 years old and was born in Camarillo, and his attorney were unsuccessful. UCSB Assistant Athletics Director Bill Mahoney said the university became aware of the charges Friday. “We will be suspending him until there is more of a resolution,” Mahoney said. “We take these things very seriously.”

The 6’3”, 185-pound guard will likely not factor much into the Gauchos’s plans this season. He played one minute in UCSB’s 74-50 victory over La Verne Thursday night.