Former Football Star Returning to Jail

A former Newbury Park High School football star, unable to shake loose from the legal problems that have already cost him a college scholarship, was sentenced to 105 days in jail and ordered to undergo anger control counseling.

Leodes Van Buren, 20, has been in jail since his latest arrest in May, when he threatened to kill himself and his infant son during a two-hour standoff with police at his father’s Newbury Park home. The dispute started when he and a girlfriend decided to break up and argued over custody of 5-month-old Leodes Jr.

Van Buren’s legal woes began when he fired a gun into the home of his former girlfriend in 1994 and was sentenced to six months in jail, costing him a football scholarship to the University of Colorado.

He was also placed on probation, agreeing to stay out of legal trouble for five years.

But late last year, Van Buren tested positive for drug use and was sentenced to an additional 15 days in jail. Earlier this month, he agreed that the latest incident violated terms of his probation again.

As a record-breaking wide receiver, Van Buren led the 1993 Newbury Park High team to an undefeated season and the Southern Section’s Division III championship.