Three students

arrested  in burglary case
By Melanie Davis

Criminal warrants were served by the Watauga County Sheriff's Office on three individuals listed as Appalachian State University students on March 4.

Robert Brandon Simpkins, 24, Jeffrey A. Logan, 22, and Travis William Dowda Jr., 22, were each charged with felony first degree burglary, felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury, injury to real property and injury to personal property.

The burglary occurred on March 1 at approximately 2 a.m. at 2239 U.S. 421 in Boone. The assault inflicting serious injury occurred during the course of the burglary. The victim's condition and identity were not released.

Simpkins and Dowda were members of the 2008 ASU football team. Simpkins, a senior, was a back-up tight end and Dowda, a junior, was back-up defensive back

The trio voluntarily turned themselves in at WCSO and were subsequently placed into custody under $25,000 secured bonds. All three have since posted bond and are scheduled to appear in district court on April 1.