Commenter Denies USC Player Was Provided SUV

USC

Joe McKnight.

A commenter who says he's the Santa Monica businessman who registered an SUV that the Los Angeles Times reports has been driven by USC star tailback Joe McKnight denied providing the vehicle the player in a post responding to to LA Weekly's own item on the matter Saturday.

The writer, who identifies himself as Scott Schenter, states that the vehicle was purchased for an employee of his, Johanna Michelle Beltran, who he calls "a longtime family friend." She also happens to be McKnight's girlfriend and the mother of his child, according to The Times. The person posting as Schenter says he took out a loan for the Land Rover in his name because her parents could not secure financing, and that Beltran has been paying for the vehicle at a rate of $500 a month.

The commenter says he was on a business trip in South Africa when the Times emailed for comment and that he was not given enough time to respond to the story. He writes that the report has caused trouble for him personally, because, "I had to disclose to my wife of the other cars I have purchased or helped buy for other women."

The writer goes on to state that he is a die-hard University of Washington fan -- complete with a "W" tattoo on one ankle -- and does not follow USC with that kind of ferver.

"I have never had USC season tickets or have never received tickets from any players or coaches from USC," the commenter writes. " ... Washington Huskies are my passion."

Of the SUV, he says "it is her car," referring to Beltran. That's what McKnight said when confronted with the Times' questions about his use of the vehicle, which could be against NCAA rules. The Times reported spotting the player behind the wheel once and heading toward the vehicle once as Betran waited in a passenger seat.

Strangely, USC reportedly stated that the vehicle was properly registered with the school as being McKnight's, a filing that would be required under NCAA rules if McKnight was in fact driving the 2006 SUV.