Yale Senior Enters Plea

NEW HAVEN, Conn.--An attorney for a young man accused of stealing an education from Yale University yesterday submitted a plea of innocent on behalf of his client.

Lon Grammer, the 25-year-old former political science major from Brentwood, Calif., didn't speak or show any emotion during his brief appearance before Superior Court Judge Jon Alander.

His attorney, Norman A. Pattis, asked the judge to dismiss the first degree larceny charge.

"We looked at the warrant, and we don't believe the warrant contains any cause to arrest," Pattis said. "There has been no demonstration that Yale has been deprived of anything permanent."

Prosecutor Roger Dobris argued that Pattis didn't prove that the charge should be dismissed. The judge didn't rule on Pattis request, saying it would have to be made in writing to another magistrate, Superior Court Judge Richard Damiani. Alander set a May 4 pretrial hearing.

Pattis and Grammer then went across the street to another court-house to see Damiani, who set a June 8 hearing on the motion for a dismissal. The larceny charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Yale University officials charge that Grammer effectively stole $61,475 in grants and loans from the school and federal government by fraudulently getting into the college. They say he forged transcripts and other documents in his application for admission as a transfer student from Cuesta Community College in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Grammer was arrested two weeks ago at his dormitory by campus police.

The senior had been at the college for nearly two years, and his attorney said he was scheduled to graduate next month.