Stepherson, Holmes suspended from Notre Dame football team following arrest

Two Notre Dame football players were arrested Friday night for shoplifting, including wide receiver Kevin Stepherson who has been in trouble with the law before. Freshman running back CJ Holmes was also arrested.

They have been suspended indefinitely from the team from all football related activities, Notre Dame football announced Wednesday.

"The University is aware of this incident and is confident that it will be handled appropriately by the criminal justice system," Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown said in a statement. "University discipline is handled privately, in accord with our own policies and federal law."

Stepherson was arrested for shoplifting a pair of sweatpants from Macy's at the University Park Mall in Mishawaka. He was picked up walking out of the store wearing an stolen $59 pair of Nautica sweatpants he allegedly did not purchase. The arrest report says Holmes had a $79 North Face coat in a bag as he departed the store that he did not buy.

The two were taken to the Macy's Security office and released after being notified of their proxy arrest. As is procedure in these cases, they were not taken to jail or booked. The case has been sent to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office, who will determine if charges will be filed.

Stepherson is currently on probation as part of a plea deal for misdemeanor possession of marijuana following an August 2016 arrest in Fulton county on U.S. 31 in Rochester along with four other teammates.

As part of the probation, Stepherson was mandated to submit urine samples as well as avoid alcohol consumption and illicit drug use. He was also required to participate in the court's drug and alcohol program.

Despite the August arrest last year, Stepherson did not sit out a single game in 2016. He finished 2nd on the team in receiving.

While it was never acknowledged by Notre Dame, Stepherson was suspended for the first four games of 2017 for what sources tell NewsCenter 16 was a violation of team rules. He eventually returned to action and became one of Notre Dame's most reliable wide receivers, catching a team high five touchdowns during the most recent football season. Stepherson started three games, catching 19 total passes for 359 yards.

Holmes played in eight total games, rushing the ball eight times for 32 yards. He appeared mostly on special teams.