The search for an Ohio U. football player charged with burglary ended today when he appeared in Athens County Municipal Court.

Melvin J. Payne, 21, of Mobile, Ala., voluntarily appeared in court this morning after he reportedly left Athens on a Greyhound bus over the weekend, according to court documents.

Payne is charged with one count of burglary, a second-degree felony, according to the documents.

A second-degree felony charge has a maximum fine of $15,000 and a maximum of eight years in prison, according to the Ohio Revised Code.

Payne waived his preliminary hearing and the case will move to the Athens County Court of Common Pleas, according to the documents.

Judge William Grim released Payne on his recognizance but ordered him to remain a law-abiding citizen and to have no contact with the residents at 159 Mill St., according to the documents.

Payne is charged with unlawfully breaking into 159 Mill St., on the night of May 29. A resident in the house woke up when Payne broke into the resident’s locked bedroom. Payne then fled through a glass door and sustained injuries, according to a previous article in The Post.

On Saturday, Athens Police officers investigating the case were unable to locate Payne at his dorm, Weld House residence hall. Officers learned that Payne had left Athens on a Greyhound bus, according to the documents.

Judge Grim issued an arrest warrant for Payne Tuesday, according to the documents.

Payne’s attorney Robert Toy had no comment on Payne leaving Athens after the break-in.

“He appeared in court voluntarily today and he will be at all future court appearances,” Toy said.