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Streaker at Arizona Wildcats game faces up to 1 1/2 years in jail

by on Oct. 21, 2011, under Arizona football

The streaker at the Arizona Wildcats football game who initially ran onto the field dressed as a game official has been charged with criminal impersonation, according to court records.

Jace M. Lankow, who is listed as an undergraduate in UA’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, was tackled by security on the field after he had stripped down to his underwear. He was led off the field in handcuffs and charged with a class 6 felony, which means he’s facing a maximum of a year and a half in jail if he has no previous felony convictions.

Lankow, who was born in October 1988, according to court records, ran onto the field with four seconds left in the first half, blowing a whistle and waving his arms as UCLA had the ball at its 43-yard line.

After unsuccessfully trying to get the ball from a game official, Lankow took off running toward the north end zone before being stopped by security after about 13 seconds.

While that was happening, a benches-clearing fight broke out between Arizona and UCLA, resulting in two player ejections and possibly more suspensions after the Pac-12 reviews the video.

(The above video was taken from the Zona Zoo student section, apparently from family or friends of Lankow, given the shot at the end of the video showing Lankow in his underwear before the game.)

Editor Mark B. Evans contributed to this report.

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This entry was posted on Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 1:02 pm and is filed under Arizona football. Tags for this post: . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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  • Pamela Powers

    1.5 years for a college prank. How Puritanical.

    • cochisecitizen

      Bradley Birkenfeld recently got a 40 month jail sentence. Who’s he? He’s a former USB banker who was convicted of defrauding the US government. Among other things, he admitted to assisting a wealthy American real estate mogul conceal $200m from the IRS in offshore accounts. Helping a tax cheat hide $200 million for the IRS is a 40 month jail term, and 13 seconds of running out on a football field in a speedo is an 18 month offense. What is wrong with this picture?

  • Bob

    That is absolutely ridiculous!

  • BantheScan

    Typical of American’t.

  • http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-tails karyn

    My memory escapes me. What was the name of that guy who was trying to run for mayor early on and refused to acknowledge a hit and run accident that happened many years ago? Was he punished for driving away from a hit and run?
    This Jace ran down the field in his undies bringing some memorable notoriety to a football game. U o A!  Go Jace!  Free Jace!

  • Zach

    Criminal impersonation? Of a college referee? Where is the pucuniary gain or intent to harm? If we charge self-deprecating pranksters with class 3 felonies, we are taking ourselves far too seriously.

  • handwind

    He’ll get a fine and be reprimanded by the UA. Can’t imagine more than that happening. They’d have to fine OOO AHH Man for stripping down to his long johns and impersonating the Village People.

  • alohapuna

    I certainly hope they let him go. Or even just community service. It’s not only absurd, but it’s unconscionable. Just another harmless person in jail who doesn’t belong there at a cost to taxpayers. Americans in general at still at an adolescent stage. When are we going to grow up?!

    • Scat

      I bet many are wondering when Jace will grow up.

      • fraser007

        So what team does he play for?

  • alohapuna

    In addition to remove a person from society who has the potential to contribute to it would be a travesty of justice.

  • Vegasallen®

    He’ll get a public defender and counseling at taxpayer expense.  For sure it will be plea bargained down if not dismissed entirely, after which he will run and be elected to Congress.

  • brenro

    This is Arizona. You have to feed the private prison machine.

  • Scat

     

  • Michael E.

    If that’s a crime,  change the law. It’s already 42-7…the fans deserve some entertainment.

  • http://www.jaime.com jaime

    Jaime was at the game and Jaime laughed so hard!  Jaime and His friends loved the comedy and think streaker better than UA band and pony tail leader.  

    • fraser007

      LOL….great comment! The U of A Band has not been good since Jack Lee led the band. When he led the band the crowd stayed to watch! After he was fired (for picking up a whore in South Tucson) (bad form) the concession sales went up because people left to buy stuff because the band was so boring. Shows where the priorities are!! If you think I am wrong, check it out with the older fans who were there. In case you didnt know Jack Lee wrote “Bear Down Arizona”. He has sinced passed away. God bless Jack Lee!!!

  • Santo Domingo

    Jaime

    What does the streaker have to do with the Pride of Arizona and Mr. Rees?

    What have they done to you? 

  • Bill

    This punk cost several players and two major universities problems.   Players, coaches and staff could have been hurt.  It is not an innocent prank.  This is not some stupid movie that this punk is trying to imitate but real life where real lives are involved.  If it was up to me he would be suspended permanently from the University of Arizona and barred from any games in the future.  You people that think it is funny are incredibly childish and need to grow up.

    • BangkokWildcat

      While I don’t condone his behavior, you are literally ‘off your rocker’ if you think he caused the undisciplined behavior which led to the fight!
      He should be punished, that much is for sure.  However, the punishment should fit the crime…..certainly not your puritanical sense of justice.  Banned permanently from the U of A???  No, I don’t think so.  Some sort lengthy community service (or better yet….service to the U of A) would be more reasonable.
      It was funny, wrong but funny and he should be punished….I don’t think wrecking his future should be the punishment though.
      And Bill….Dude, “Lighten up Francis!” (from Bill Murray in Stripes).  

    • dan

      you need a sense of humor.

    • ryan

      Ya Bill you’re completely right… NOT!!! I’m sure there was more reason the fight broke out other than  the streaker. I mean i guess college athletes just get completely pissed off when people strip and that’s why the punches are thrown. DUMB. the fight would have taken place regardless. 

  • Santo Domingo

    On another note besides Jaime’s comments, we live in a country with limited freedoms. The window on those limits are getting smaller and smaller. We are a country that expects the local police, fire and other agencies including the federal government to protect us because the laws that have been adopted are laws that prevent us from being able to protect ourselves. If we wouldn’t have to be baby sat there wouldn’t be a need for police and fire as well as all the other agencies and departments in the judicial system. Can you imagine the cost savings that would be?  We could put that extra money into fixing the infrastructure,  parks, and recreation.

  • Mr.Hmanity

    I keep hearing everyone say “whats the big deal with this”, “whats the big deal with that”.Well truthfully” Women and children can afford to be careless, but not men.”Its the adolescent that emply this is acceptable behavior..The lack of respect for your fellow student,parents of,teachers who support the program,or anyone affiliated is just another sign we are a selfish and cruel and plain stupid as a people.What if it was your house ,your sons game,your future bieng disrepected and laughed upon with onlookers saying”Whats the big deal”??????????

  • Desert Flower

    This is ridiculous and the poor kid will have to probably register as a sex offender for ten years. Pima County is out of control with its arrests and sentences. It was all in fun. I was in college in the 70′s and streaking was no big deal but we have become so politically correct and prudish.  Hope the charges get dropped.

  • neil diamond

    I am sure the mullahs in Arizona will be happy that these kind of devils are caned for their crimes.

  • nemuslaw

    At 23 years old, I’m not sure I would consider him a “kid”.   Nor, can I empathize and call him a “poor kid” given that he was likely cognizant enough to know there would be consequences to his actions.   That said, the penalty does seem harsh for this particular type of “crime”.

  • SF

    What do people expect? He’s a U of A “student”, where the average  intelligence is that of a rock. What an idiot. 

    • Tom

      What I’ve always liked about TC’s sports blogs is the absence of trolls like you. Go away…please.

  • http://sosen.org Eric Knight

    What nobody is talking about is that Lankow can also be registered as a sex offender. Streaking is one offense which can merit a low or medium tier level classification in Arizona. Sex offender registration will more than likely keep Lankow from living at the college, living in the proximity of schools, parks, etc during probation (and in many cases, after released from the court system), and in general screw up his life.

    • cochisecitizen

      ??? How could Lankow be required to register as a sex offender? He didn’t expose himself to anyone. He was wearing a Speedo, which is legal to wear  at public pools or beaches. No one saw – or touched – his junk.

  • pabsaz

    ridiculous!!!!  Charge the kid a fine and let him get on with his education.

  • ed

    Based on what I have seen this season from both AZ and UCLA, the streaker was the only one on the field who know why he was there.

  • http://tucsoncitizen.com/lizard/ Logical Lizard

    A felony charge to someone with no priors for taking his pants off at a sports game?! What is our country coming to? Our police might better spend their time tackling violent crime and other real problems. Absolutely ridiculous and an absurd waste of time and resources. Somebody organize a petition to help this guy and I’ll be the first to sign it.

  • You know I’m right

    If they give him 18 months in jail basically for stupidity…then they should arrest and give the entire UA fanbase 18 months. I’ve only seen one fanbase as bad and stupid as the one in Tucson. And they dress up in skulls and crossbones and paint themselves silver in Oakland. The fan base in Tucson is out of control, the PAC 12 commish should insist the UA  put a 25 foot high fence or cage around those douchbags.

  • duckfan

    No way this should be a felony for the kid.  He deserves some punishment , maybe community service like picking up trash, etc. 

  • Karen Fisher

    Give him community service to the U of A, make him pay for every penny of his own legal fees…but don’t ruin his life.  Why don’t they try putting real crimminals in jail before you spend one dime of tax payer’s money on this issue.   It was FUNNY!!

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