Former KU safety to serve probation

A former Kansas University safety on Tuesday was sentenced to serve 18 months probation for three misdemeanor convictions in an October 2007 incident.

A Douglas County jury in March convicted Jerome Kemp of battery, violation of a protective order and obstruction related to breaking down another man’s door late at night in northwest Lawrence. Jurors also acquitted Kemp of seven other charges, including five felonies.

Kemp said he learned his lesson from serving more than four months in jail before the trial.

“It opened up my eyes to where I could be if I don’t get my life back on track,” Kemp said.

Once his bond was reduced, he returned to Wichita, his hometown, where he now works as an apprentice for a construction company. He said he also has sought treatment for anger management.

With the new conviction, Kemp violated his probation in two prior misdemeanor criminal damage cases, but District Judge Peggy Kittel applied the jail time he had already served to those cases.

Kemp was a four-year letter winner at KU who last played in 2006.