Michigan State Football Players Charged with Assault
by Pete Rossman on Dec 9, 2009 3:46 PM CST
in Michigan State Spartans Football
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PrintThe players are Roderick Jenrette, Glenn Winston, Fred Smith, B.J. Cunningham, Mark Dell, Jamiihr Williams, Ashton Leggett, J’Michael Deane and Chris L. Rucker.
The Ingham County prosecutor's office did state that they wanted to file charges before finals week, and here they are. The only one on that list that hasn't been mentioned in the news yet is Deane. For some reason he wasn't punished along with the other players in the altercation, I'm guessing there's a bowl game suspension in the cards (Edit: Deane suspension confirmed, check update #2 - PR). The two players who were punished by Dantonio but not charged with assault were Ishmyl Johnson and Brynden Trawick.
In all, the only aspect of these charges that was unexpected was the assault charge against Deane. Hopefully this can be settled quick and we can put this incident in the past. The announced charges could've been a lot worse - according to one victim's attourney 15-20 players were present, meaning that 5-10 more charges could've been filed if adequate proof existed.
UPDATE: The Detroit News has a list of the specific charges:
The players accused and the charges are:
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Roderick Jenrette, 22, of East Lansing; conspiracy and three counts of assault or assault and battery.
Glenn Winston, 20, East Lansing; conspiracy and two counts of assault or assault and battery.
Frederick Smith, 19, Macomb Township; conspiracy and a count of assault or assault and battery.
B.J. Cunningham, 20, Lansing; conspiracy and a count of assault or assault and battery.
Jamiihr Williams, 20, East Lansing; conspiracy and count of assault or assault and battery.
Mark Dell, 20, Lansing; a count of assault or assault and battery.
Ashton Leggett, 20, Muskegon; conspiracy and two counts of assault or assault and battery.
J'Micheal Deane, 23, East Lansing; conspiracy and a count of assault or assault and battery.
Chris L. Rucker, 21, East Lansing; conspiracy and a count of assault or assault and battery.
All nine individuals are charged with conspiracy, which is a misdemeanor with a one-year maximum. The other charges are also misdemeanors, and have a 93-day maximum sentence.
UPDATE #2 - Yup, Deane's been suspended, along with another wide receiver, Chris D. Rucker and defensive back Donald Spencer per The State News. On a related note, if you are an MSU student with a fast 40 time and good decent two hands, I'd start checking with the football staff about opportunities for a free trip to San Antonio this January.
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Way to go...
….jackasses. (end Joe Flaherty voice. Or not, I love that guy)
Our current wide reciever corps based on the current roster.
13 Bennie Fowler WR 6-1 205 FR (redshirting)
18 Jordan Benton WR 6-0 177 FR Los Angeles, Calif. – Loyola (walk on, Hasn’t played)
21 Patrick White WR 5-11 180 FR Pickerington, Ohio – Pickerington Central (redshirting, played CB in the spring)
25 Blair White WR 6-2 200 SR Saginaw, Mich. – Nouvel Catholic Central (Think we loved you before, Blair? )
81 Brad Sonntag WR 5-8 177 SO Saginaw, Mich. – Nouvel Catholic Central (walk on, from Blair’s H.S. Hmmm.)
82 Keshawn Martin WR 5-11 185 SO Inkster, Mich. – John Glenn (And you, too, Keyshawn)
86 Myles White WR 6-1 170 RS FR Livonia, Mich. – Stevenson (walk on)
87 Milton Colbert WR 6-4 210 RS FR Villa Park, Ill. – Willowbrook (walk on)
89 Cam Martin WR 6-4 184 SO Tampa, Fla. – H.B. Plant (redheaded walk on)
Only Blair White (64 for 876 and 8 TDs) and Keyshawn Martin (14 for 325 and 4 TDs) have caught a pass among the not suspended. Only Brad Sontag, Cam Martin and Myles White have played in games.
So, this whole thing is not particularily good for MSU.
Looks like we will be.....
…….Lining up TEs at WR
by BennieBladesFan on Dec 9, 2009 7:52 PM CST up reply actions
Grasping at straws
Myles White was on the depth chart against Penn State. I don’t think he was a walk-on (see http://michiganstate.scout.com/2/698302.html ) and apparently he had some moments in the Spring ( http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/white_myles00.html ). He was a track star in high school. Who knows?
I thought...
…the story was he’s on track scholarship.
I think Linthicum especially can probably do a credible job as a slot reciever. He’s seemed like the quickest TE. Or we just run I-form 2-TE all the time.
Mitchell White, Myles' twin brother
is on a track scholarship. Myles has a football scholarship.
by Pete Rossman on Dec 9, 2009 11:33 PM CST up reply actions
Uh, scratch that
See link from nickexperience below on White’s alleged public urination/alcohol possession charges.
Talk about a cursed position – MSU wide receiver. This goes back to Mark Ingram (the elder) from the 80’s.
by Con-T on Dec 10, 2009 9:53 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
On ESPN.com front page, finally taking this embarrassment national.
Great job, guys. Good thing every single viable wide-out was involved in this thing.
Dell/Cunningham
So do the assault charges imply that the prosecutor thinks that Dell/Cunnigham did, in fact, hit some people? Or can you be charged with assault just for being part of a group assault situation?
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Dec 9, 2009 7:38 PM CST reply actions
Honestly..
I think it means the guy under pressure and is just trying to file any charges he possibly can that is even remotely realistic. Means no injuries were sustained by anyone.. basically filing charges for them getting in a shoving match.
Also interesting — no charges filed against the frat guys who jumped Winston the night before to provoke the whole incident.
From an online legal dictionary:
An assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an apparent, present ability to cause the harm.
So an assault can take place even if the assailant did not touch the victim. I’m guessing that’s why the assault OR assault and battery charge is in there, because:
Battery is concerned with the right to have one’s body left alone by others.
That’s why I’m guessing Jenrette and Winston were immediately dismissed – because for both of them it was their second strike and they both have more than one count. This leads me to speculate they were doing most of the actual contact, but that’s only mere speculation at this point.
Yeah.
Assualt doesn’t require a touch, while battery does. I’m guessing that the prosecutor hasn’t figured out yet who actually hit someone, and who was just there, but if he has reasonable evidence that each of those men were there (and that each was involved in some way), and that multiple instances of assault and battery occurred, he can charge each with assault and battery preliminarily and drop charges later as appropriate.
"Do not cheat your team or your teammates. Know your plays. Block. Protect. Add to what we are trying to do."
The Only Colors
by LVS on Dec 9, 2009 8:47 PM CST up reply actions
I knew it was worth keeping a lawyer on retainer
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Dec 9, 2009 8:51 PM CST up reply actions
Ok, so nevermind:
Rexrode clears things up a bit:
First, the charges in the press release (along with conspiracy to assault for all nine suspects) include the term “assault or assault and battery.” There are some conflicting reports on this, but Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III made it clear Wednesday night that all of the players (and two former players) are charged with making physical contact.
However, assault on its own can involve the threat alone.
“It’s a matter of what we prove," Dunnings said. “Is the proof going to show they actually hit somebody, or that they put the person in fear? It doesn’t matter, either way they’re still guilty.”
"Do not cheat your team or your teammates. Know your plays. Block. Protect. Add to what we are trying to do."
The Only Colors
MooTheKow is right
You have to like the “conspiracy” charge against everyone. This is the very definition of “hey, we better throw the book at everyone and let the courts sort it out”. I think certainly some people (most likely Winston and Jenrette) deserve the assault and battery charge, but I’m thinking its pretty dubious for the rest. Still a bad call for them all to show up in a situation like this though.
"It's a trap!"
Disagree.
If the allegations are true, they each made a plan beforehand to go to Rather Hall and start a brawl. (As evidenced by the ski masks, the fact that it was apparently in retaliation for a fight the previous night, etc.) That’s a conspiracy, and under the circumstances as we understand them (which obviously might not be the entire story), the charges seem legit.
"Do not cheat your team or your teammates. Know your plays. Block. Protect. Add to what we are trying to do."
The Only Colors
by LVS on Dec 9, 2009 8:52 PM CST up reply actions
Ski masks?
I was under the impression that this detail of the initial story had since been clarified, that one person was wearing a cap that covered the forehead and chin, but in no way hid the identity of the wearer?
The pre-text that they went to the frat under is also important. If they (the non Winston/Jenrette guys) thought they were there to complain to the president of the frat, that’s enough to show that there was no conspiracy.
Light a man a fire, he'll stay warm for a day.
Light a man afire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
I had heard varying things about the ski masks. Rexrode now reports that the prosecutor has clarified, and you’re right — no ski masks, one guy wearing a partial winter hat. So yeah, I take that part back.
But I don’t buy the second part of your argument. A dozen or so big, strong guys show up under the impression that all that would be taking place was “complaining”? Absolutely no way.
"Do not cheat your team or your teammates. Know your plays. Block. Protect. Add to what we are trying to do."
The Only Colors
Back-up
I think it’s highly probable that most of the players went there with no intention of hitting anyone. Ever see one of those fights where a bunch of guys show up principally to insure that the real fight between the the 2/3 angry parties happens? I’m guessing it was that sort of thing. They wanted to make sure that Winston got what he wanted.
However, that in no way, shape, or form excuses it. One of those guys needed to be a leader and talk some sense into the group. That individual would have been a hero saved so many parties a lot of grief.
Personally, I’m really tired of apologist fans. I’ve heard so many people blame the press, the frat, the media, etc. It’s ridiculous. It’s the players fault. Any misrepresentations or exaggerations that come with pulling something like this are part of the consequences. The players brought it on themselves.
Slight correction
On the Rexrode link, campus police chief says that there weren’t any ski masks, not Dunnings.
by witless chum on Dec 10, 2009 9:51 AM CST up reply actions
My late night reading skills need work.
Mea culpa.
"Do not cheat your team or your teammates. Know your plays. Block. Protect. Add to what we are trying to do."
The Only Colors
I hear you, but...
I agree that they probably weren’t going to “talk it out”, but if they were going to start a “brawl”, then why didn’t they? Jenrette and Winston were obviously fighting, but there is no explanation why the rest of the “conspirators” didn’t start going to town on everyone. If your rebuttal is that they DID start brawling, then I ask you to explain the lack of severity of injuries, or the aftermath in general. Clearly people would have gotten hurt had this been the case, there’s no question there.
by JohnnyB.Spartans on Dec 10, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
I'm not saying that they necessarily intended to start a brawl.
Merely that they had to know, under the circumstances, that there was a reasonable possibility of that happening. I’m not sure how the law is written in Michigan, but that’s enough to warrant a conspiracy charge in many places.
And in any event, I stand by what I wrote before. There’s no way I can believe that many big, strong, college-aged guys decided to go over there to do anything other than 1) at the very least, threaten violence and intimidate the other guys (which, if the threat was immediate enough, is sufficient for the assault charge to stick) or 2) to actually throw down.
Whether there should be jail time (probably not) is another matter.
"Do not cheat your team or your teammates. Know your plays. Block. Protect. Add to what we are trying to do."
The Only Colors
I agree with 1, that they went over to intimidate or ensure winston
didn’t get jumped himself, but as for the notion that they ransacked the place (hitting women, etc.), I call BS. The aftermath of something like that would have much very severe, because like you said, they are a group of big, strong, college-aged guys.
This was definitely stupid as all hell on their part, and they should be suspended (or kicked off, if they fought), but the whole story seemed suspect from the start. It was a potluck held by their “rival” frat – of course every witness is going to embellish the situation a bit, as evidenced by the fact that the whole ski mask story was a bit fabricated. I can’t help but at least question the rest of the victim’s story.
I don’t think they should be kicked off if they didn’t actually fight – a suspension into next season seems just.
by JohnnyB.Spartans on Dec 10, 2009 3:18 PM CST up reply actions
there were no ski masks
per the police chief
by JohnnyB.Spartans on Dec 10, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions
Ugh
I am most dissapointed by Chris L. Rucker. I watched him all year and really enjoyed seeing him play. I think he was our best defensive back. I think he was our second best defensive player. Really really bummed about that one.
As for the bowl game, I think MSU is going to line up in a lot of double TE sets. It was a formation I hated to see all year but now I think that is all the team can do in this game. The only two WRs with any experience are Martin and White. I think our TEs and running game are going to have to do a lot to get a win.
Perfect
Next big headline: “Blair White arrested for performing root canal without a dental license.”
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Dec 10, 2009 9:09 AM CST up reply actions
Just to keep...
…our White Bros. straight:
Mitchell White, walk-on CB, was the one who, according to the police report, had the fight last fall with the dearly-departed from MSU hockey player Andrew Conboy and then returned with the ‘08 posse, including Winston. He ended up pleading in that case and also pleaded in a previous where he, Charles Burrell (gone, almostly surely for participating in the 08’ posse) and Cameron Jude (who’s still around) ran from the campus cops for no apparent reason and were later picked up. They all pleaded guilty, though Burrell added the wrinkle of missed court appearances. Now that I’ve looked that up, I’m kinda surprised Mitchell White is still around, but he didn’t get mixed up in the ‘09 posse, so maybe he’s the guy who learns his lesson.
Myles White, the scholarship WR, is one who’s now been busted for public urination the night of the supposed precipitating incident of the ‘09 posse. He hasn’t been in any trouble before, that we know of.
by witless chum on Dec 10, 2009 9:47 AM CST up reply actions
White now suspended
http://noise.typepad.com/hey_joe/2009/12/myles-white-suspended.html
Per Rexrode, it’s not for being the last guy involved in the stupid posse, but just for taking the public urination charge.
by witless chum on Dec 11, 2009 5:40 AM CST up reply actions
Our season highlights DVD:
“MSU Football 2009: Receivers Gone Wild”
New team rule for 2010: no more than 3 receivers can be together at the same time, on or off the field.
by DP99 on Dec 10, 2009 9:32 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
I like it.
An alternative rule would be that every gathering of receivers must include Kirk Cousins as Chaperon.
Rob Parker thinks this is a very, very bad idea.
"Do not cheat your team or your teammates. Know your plays. Block. Protect. Add to what we are trying to do."
The Only Colors
by LVS on Dec 10, 2009 11:37 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The Longest Yard?
I doubt all these guys will end up doing time, but if they do that’s one heck of a prison yard team.
I heard the prison guards run a pass-heavy spread offense, though
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Dec 10, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
OT: What's the story...
…with The Small Planet being located in BFE? In my day, it was on MAC in the first block off Grand River. I can’t think what’s there now, south of the giant BW3.
Back in ‘99 or so I talked to the owner about something for the SNews and he claimed that the city didn’t like him and wanted him gone because he was a thorn in their side. He apparently was too curmugeonly to want to sign up for various happy talk ventures that involved East Lansing pretending its main business wasn’t intoxicating MSU students, but that’s my memory of 10-year-old conversation that probably didn’t have anything to do with the subject of my interview with the guy.
Long story short
The city of East Lansing hatesto offer liquor licenses. Thus, new clubs have to find new cities to go to, and Bath (just north of East Lansing) fit the bill.
by Pete Rossman on Dec 13, 2009 12:55 AM CST up reply actions
Freep story....
…explains some of the legalisms involved. Says aggravated assault means you actually managed to hurt someone, while just assault means you probably didn’t. Says most non-Winston guys would likely serve no jail time.
I just hope they do all the pleas on the same day, as soon as possible. That’ll make it easy for Orson Swindle tote up our Fulmer Cup points and get it out of the news soonest.
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