Former Lobo may be back, case dismissed

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A quarterback is supposed to be good at hiding the ball, but a UNM quarterback tried to hide his arrest from Coach Bob Davie and that got him booted off the team.

Now KRQE News 13 has learned that the charges against former New Mexico prep and junior college star David Vega have now been dropped.

A judge tossed the criminal case against Vega earlier this week, and now he may have a future again with the Lobos.

Coach Davie was not happy when we alerted him about Vega's arrest in August . The Lobos were counting on the former high school standout who was All-State quarterback at Goddard High in Roswell before going on to lead a powerhouse juco team at the New Mexico Military Institute.

His arrest for minor in possession of alcohol and concealing his identity wasn't the first time he had been in trouble with the team.

In fact, Coach Davie had suspended him during training camp in Ruidoso last summer but wouldn't say why. “I will let people try and guess what that was,” Davie said.

But he may get a third chance after all, since the judge threw out his criminal case Monday.

“It's our understanding that the court dismissed the case because she felt the search was illegal under the United States constitution,” District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said.

Vega was arrested after cops followed an alert from a stolen iPhone to a west side home Vega shared with three roommates.

“(Officers) went to the house, went into the backyard and noticed vomit on the side of the car and they felt that allowed them an exception to enter the home,” said Brandenburg.

Police say they found Vega drunk inside and he wouldn't tell them his name. But, a judge ruled police didn't have the right to enter the home without permission or a warrant.

No one was charged for the stolen iPhone.

Coach Davie declined to speak on camera about Vega rejoining the team, but did say he'll announce his decision to the media.

With all their quarterback injuries last season, the Lobos could have certainly used Vega. This year Davie recruited more quarterbacks so if he is allowed back, Vega will have a tough battle for playing time.