[BB73]

Running count on Houston Nutt's 8-year tenure is at the end.

Arkansas' Hicks pleads no contest
WEST FORK, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas tight end Jared Hicks pleaded no contest to a charge of public intoxication and was fined $200 before a bench trial in West Fork District Court was scheduled to take place Tuesday night.

Hicks, who is from Bartlesville, Okla., initially pleaded innocent during a court appearance last week. The public intoxication citation won't appear on his record.

Hicks, 21, was booked at Washington County Detention Center on April 18 and released an hour later. Hicks and two others were apparently going for a swim on the White River when they were stopped by an officer and arrested on alcohol-related misdemeanors, police said.
Police said the officer stopped the car in a park after observing it moving erratically; the driver, Steve Sprick of West Fork, was issued a driving-while-intoxicated citation; Hicks and the other passenger were cited on public drunkenness charges.

The university athletic department didn't immediately return a call for comment regarding Hicks' status with the team.

Hicks played 10 games last season, despite dislocating his shoulder in the opener. He caught eight passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns in 2004.

Hicks had off-season surgery for his shoulder injury, but was hurt again during Arkansas' first scrimmage this spring. He was held out of last Saturday's Red and White scrimmage. In his three-year career, Hicks has made 13 catches for 154 yards and has scored two touchdowns.

Hicks' arrest came just more than a month after Arkansas senior defensive end Clarke Moore was arrested and charged with driving under the influence in Farmington on March 12. Both Hicks and Moore are listed fourth on the post-spring depth chart at their positions.

Hicks' brush with the law is the program's 15th alcohol-related arrest in coach Houston Nutt's eight years with Arkansas. Hicks is the 30th player to be arrested during Nutt's tenure.

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