Hurd’s rap sheet includes days at NIU

A review of court documents and police reports from around DeKalb County shows former Northern Illinois University football player Sam Hurd once pleaded guilty to battery and was evicted from a DeKalb apartment during his time at the school.

Hurd, 26, was arrested on federal drug charges in December while a member of the Chicago Bears. According to a criminal complaint, Hurd told an undercover agent he wanted to purchase 5-10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week to sell in the Chicago area.

Hurd played for NIU's football team from 2002-05. Court documents show a civil case filed in 2006 against Hurd and former roommates Shatone Powers and Jasper Turner, all of which were evicted for failure to pay rent; the judgment amount has yet to be paid.

In August 2005, the three men entered into a lease agreement with Bisque Terrace Apartments for an apartment at 902 Ridge Drive in DeKalb. During the football season, the property manager was able to call then-NIU football coach Joe Novak to get his players to pay rent, said Susan Lawrence – who works for Autumn Creek Management, which leased the apartments. By spring, it became harder to get the money owed, she said.

A bulk payment of $940.41, which was not paid, was due in February 2006, with $700 rent due on the first day of each month thereafter, according to the civil complaint filed in DeKalb County court March 3, 2006. The three men also owed $55 in late fees.

Lawrence said she remembers the civil suit being "incredibly frustrating" to deal with in court, and that the three men were given ample time to hire campus legal counsel and pay the money owed.

The three men didn't show up for trial May 2, 2006, according to court documents. At that time, Circuit Judge Kurt Klein ordered Bisque Terrace Apartments to recover the rental property from Hurd, Powers and Turner.

The roommates were served three eviction notices for not paying rent before the process went to a sheriff's eviction, Lawrence said. They were given a final eviction notice May 2, 2006; the eviction was completed and their belongings placed on the street on the morning of May 11, 2006, according to court documents.

Judgment, costs and attorney fees added up to $2,786.41, according to court documents. It went to collection in April 2007. The total currently owed to Bisque Terrace Apartments is $5,198.44, Lawrence said.

After trying to obtain the money through a collection agency, the management company attempted to contact Hurd's attorney, David Kenner, she said. Court documents show payment has not been received. Kenner, the California-based lawyer representing Hurd on the federal drug charges, could not be reached by the Daily Chronicle.

"Clearly, Hurd had money," Lawrence said.

Since it was a "joint and several tenancy," any of the three could be held responsible for the entire balance, she said. Bisque Terrace Apartments seeks only one amount, whether it comes in one payment from each man or one large payment.

Lawrence said when she heard of Hurd's arrest on federal drug charges, she thought: "Now we'll never see [the money]."

Lynn Richards with NIU Students' Legal Assistance represented Hurd, Powers and Turner in the civil case. Richards could not be reached for comment.

In April 2004, Hurd was charged with two counts of battery – a Class A misdemeanor – after he struck a man in the back of the head with his fist, according to court documents.

A warrant was issued for Hurd's arrest April 26, 2004; he turned himself in to police April 29, 2004. According to a DeKalb Police Department investigation report obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, Hurd told police the man provoked him while the two were arguing at a party.

Hurd pleaded guilty to one count of battery in June 2004; the other count of battery was dismissed, according to court documents. He was ordered to one year of court supervision and to pay a $300 fine.

Bail was applied to the fee amount, so $120 was owed. When Hurd did not pay, a final notice was issued in December 2004 that a January 2005 court date had been set unless he paid the money owed at least three days before the court date, according to court documents. Hurd paid the $120 on Jan. 24, 2005.

Reports from the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and DeKalb Police show the two agencies interacted with Hurd on June 4, 2003, when someone reported seeing a man with a gun in the parking lot of Suburban Estates Apartments in DeKalb.

Police located Hurd, who was carrying a BB gun resembling a handgun, according to the report. Hurd said he was shooting at birds, and police informed him doing so within city limits is against city ordinances. He was not arrested or charged.