Wide receivers Jody Ellis and Derrick McPhearson were dismissed from the Illinois football team Monday afternoon, hours after each pled not guilty to four counts of residential burglary and two counts of theft over $300 at their arraignment.

Football coach Ron Zook said he spoke with Athletic Director Ron Guenther and Chancellor Richard Herman, and the three agreed that the alleged criminal activity was intolerable. Baseball coach Dan Hartleb also confirmed Monday that McPhearson, a first-year outfielder, was also dismissed from the baseball program.

“It is not only disrespectful to this football team, but to the University of Illinois as well,” Zook said in a statement. “We will not allow any one person to tear down the reputation of this program.”

Police stopped Ellis and McPhearson on Friday after they drove away from a car accident. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said authorities found stolen laptops, iPods, digital cameras and wallets in the vehicle. Ellis and McPhearson were arrested and charged with breaking and entering four unlocked apartments in Campustown.

After the arraignment, Rietz said that police had not finished processing the vehicle as of Monday afternoon, and that further charges may be pending.

“This is, according to the Champaign Police Department, an ongoing investigation,” Rietz said. “There is other evidence to process and if there are any charges to be filed we will announce them in the future.”

If convicted, both men would face a mandatory jail sentence. Each residential burglary charge, a Class 1 felony, carries a mandatory 4-15 year sentence. Each count of theft over $300, a Class 3 felony, could result in probation or jail time up to five years. Ellis and McPhearson are being tried separately, and have hired separate attorneys, although the charges filed against them are identical. The allegations are that the two acted together, but that no one else was involved, Rietz said. Both men requested jury trials and will appear in court for pretrial on April 10. Rietz said the pair allegedly entered unlocked apartments of random University students during Friday’s Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day celebration. She said she could not confirm rumors that either man had been drinking.

“Obviously that is a bit of advice for students on campus, as well as for citizens in the community, not to leave your door unlocked,” Rietz said, “because it makes you a very easy target for someone to walk in and take your property.”

Ellis and McPhearson’s alleged criminal activity is the latest in a string of athlete arrests. In February, basketball player Jamar Smith was charged with aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. In September, basketball player Rich McBride was also charged with DUI.

The Daily Illini’s Sky Opila contributed to this report.