MORGANTOWN - Bill Stewart put a quick end to any speculation on how Charles Pugh's recent brush with the law will affect his status with West Virginia's football team.

The first-year Mountaineer coach kicked Pugh off the team Wednesday.

Without elaboration, the school issued a release that said Pugh was being "dismissed from the Mountaineer football program for a violation of team rules'' by Stewart.

A day earlier WVU police filed a criminal complaint charging the senior safety with a felony for fraudulent schemes. Pugh was expected to turn himself in to the Monongalia County Sheriff's office.

Stewart had issued a statement Tuesday saying he was investigating the situation and would "take appropriate action when I have gathered all the facts.''

The facts, according to the criminal complaint, are that Pugh and an unidentified woman allegedly found a set of car keys at the university's student union center last Tuesday and used the remote control "panic button'' on the keychain to locate the car in a parking lot. There, they allegedly took several credit cards, personal identification and $200 in cash from the vehicle.

Police said that the card was later used to purchase at least $1,600 in merchandise at several stores, including the Finish Line at Morgantown Mall. Pugh was charged with a felony because the amount was more than $1,000.

Quinton Andrews, a junior safety for the Mountaineers, was initially believed to have been involved, but no charges were brought against him. On Wednesday, Andrews was at the Puskar Center and apparently still a member of the team in good standing.

Pugh was expected to contend for a starting position in the fall and in fact would have battled Andrews at the bandit safety.

A 6-foot, 200-pound senior from Orlando, Fla., Pugh has played in 37 games during his career and has 60 tackles and three sacks. He started two games at the beginning of the 2006 season, but much of his playing time has come as a member of special teams. Last year he played in 12 games and had 19 tackles, but has also showed a penchant for committing personal-foul penalties.

To contact staff writer Dave Hickman use e-mail or call 348-1734.

MORGANTOWN - Bill Stewart put a quick end to any speculation on how Charles Pugh's recent brush with the law will affect his status with West Virginia's football team.

The first-year Mountaineer coach kicked Pugh off the team Wednesday.

Without elaboration, the school issued a release that said Pugh was being "dismissed from the Mountaineer football program for a violation of team rules'' by Stewart.

A day earlier WVU police filed a criminal complaint charging the senior safety with a felony for fraudulent schemes. Pugh was expected to turn himself in to the Monongalia County Sheriff's office.

Stewart had issued a statement Tuesday saying he was investigating the situation and would "take appropriate action when I have gathered all the facts.''

The facts, according to the criminal complaint, are that Pugh and an unidentified woman allegedly found a set of car keys at the university's student union center last Tuesday and used the remote control "panic button'' on the keychain to locate the car in a parking lot. There, they allegedly took several credit cards, personal identification and $200 in cash from the vehicle.

Police said that the card was later used to purchase at least $1,600 in merchandise at several stores, including the Finish Line at Morgantown Mall. Pugh was charged with a felony because the amount was more than $1,000.

Quinton Andrews, a junior safety for the Mountaineers, was initially believed to have been involved, but no charges were brought against him. On Wednesday, Andrews was at the Puskar Center and apparently still a member of the team in good standing.

Pugh was expected to contend for a starting position in the fall and in fact would have battled Andrews at the bandit safety.

A 6-foot, 200-pound senior from Orlando, Fla., Pugh has played in 37 games during his career and has 60 tackles and three sacks. He started two games at the beginning of the 2006 season, but much of his playing time has come as a member of special teams. Last year he played in 12 games and had 19 tackles, but has also showed a penchant for committing personal-foul penalties.

To contact staff writer Dave Hickman use e-mail or call 348-1734.