Dez Bryant accused of not paying Stillwater rent
BY MATT BAKER World Sports Writer
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
3/30/11 at 5:48 AM
Related story: OSU investigating Bryant claims.
Allegations that Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant hasn't paid all his bills date back to his days in Stillwater.
The former Oklahoma State star was sued for $3,479.80 in January 2010 for failing to pay for rent and damages at the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home he and a friend rented in Stillwater, according to Payne County District Court documents.
Jim Campbell Property Management filed another suit in October, claiming Bryant still owed $5,100.
"He still has not paid us," Bryce Campbell, the property company's manager, told the Tulsa World on Tuesday. "He will not answer our calls."
Two recent Texas lawsuits have brought Bryant's spending into question.
According to multiple reports, a New York jeweler filed a suit last week claiming Bryant owes $240,000 for unpaid jewelry ordered between January and May 2010.
In another lawsuit, a Texas jeweler alleges Bryant has not paid $588,500 in jewelry, $15,850 in sporting event tickets and $11,000 in loans. Those deals were made between June 2009 and June 2010, according to The Associated Press.
Bryant's attorney, Texas state Sen. Royce West, told the AP that the Texas lawsuits will be resolved.
"What we're seeing is Dez Bryant being singled out," West told the AP.
Bryant played three games during the 2009 season before the NCAA ruled him ineligible for lying to investigators. The All-America receiver lost his final appeal on Nov. 5 of that year.
Campbell said Bryant moved out of the Stillwater property around that time, leaving behind some property damage and "a bunch of crud" for the company to move out.
"The guy just left and didn't pay his rent," Campbell said. "It's that simple."
Campbell said he eventually spoke to Bryant. The receiver told him that his adviser, David Wells, would take care of the bills, but Wells made only a few small payments, Campbell said.
Wells also is a co-defendant in Bryant's $600,000 lawsuit. Calls to Wells' home in DeSoto, Texas, went unanswered.
In October, Campbell's company filed another suit against Bryant, alleging that the receiver and his close friend, Carl King, owed $5,100 in unpaid rent and damages because monthly payments kept accruing after the first lawsuit was filed.
Bryant's agent, Eugene Parker, said in a telephone interview that the player's legal counsel told Parker the case had been closed. According to court records, the suit was dropped in December.
Campbell said Bryant's lawyers told his company that if they signed a form agreeing to drop the case, the leasing office would receive a check within two weeks.
"We never received anything," Campbell said, "and that's been months ago."
Campbell said Bryant still owes $5,100 and that his company plans to file another lawsuit against the receiver.
Parker referred further comment to Bryant's attorney, who did not return a call for comment.
Bryant was considered one of the elite prospects in the 2010 NFL Draft. After three seasons at OSU, he ranked among the top four in school history in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.
But questions surrounding his character caused him to slide to the Dallas Cowboys and the 24th overall pick in last year's draft. He signed a five-year contract worth $11.8 million, including a guaranteed $8.3 million, according to reports.
"We were kind of excited he got a contract," Campbell said. "OK, the guy just didn't have the money. Now he's got a contract. Five thousand is nothing to him. ...
"He hasn't even attempted to (pay)."
Original Print Headline: Bryant accused of not paying Stillwater rent
Matt Baker 918-581-8358
matt.baker@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Legal woes
Dez Bryant: The former OSU star faces multiple lawsuits alleging unpaid bills in Stillwater and in Texas.
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