The Gainesville State Attorney's office has filed formal charges against two Florida football players for an incident outside a nightclub in April that left a man seriously injured.
Channing Crowder, 19, was charged with battery, a first-degree misdemeanor, and faces one year in jail if convicted. Steven Harris, 18, has been charged with felony battery with intent to cause great bodily harm. The charge is a third-degree felony punishable by five years in prison.
"We've talked to sufficient witnesses to believe these are the most appropriate charges and the ones we can sustain in court," State Attorney Bill Cervone said Tuesday.
Crowder and Harris were arrested April 22 on charges of aggravated battery. They are accused of repeatedly kicking Brian Assent, 22, in the head, face and body, knocking him unconscious in the parking lot of the Palace, a Gainesville nightclub, on April 13. Assent was treated for multiple injuries, including a lost tooth, facial lacerations that required 11 stitches and "permanent disfigurement."
Crowder of Atlanta enrolled in January and ended the spring as a starter at strongside linebacker. Harris is a backup defensive end. They are expected to be arraigned in the next couple of weeks, Cervone said, then the case will proceed.
McPHERSON UPDATE: A hearing to discuss a retrial on misdemeanor gambling charges for former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson has been scheduled for Sept.25 in Tallahassee. A mistrial was called last week after a six-member jury failed to reach agreement after two days of deliberation.
McPherson's attorneys had said they would seek a plea agreement on all charges against him, but assistant state attorney Georgia Cappleman, a prosecutor on the case, said she has not spoken to his attorney, Grady Irvin Jr. of St. Petersburg, since Friday. Irvin declined to comment Tuesday.
SOUTH FLORIDA: Four athletes will participate in the NCAA Track & Field championships today through Saturday at Cal-State Sacramento. On the women's side are Dayana Octavien (discus and hammer throw), Chandra Brewer (shot put) and Largo's Alexis McGaffagan (high jump), and representing the men's team will be Boca Ciega graduate Jimmy Baxter (high jump). Octavien's discus qualifier is today, and all will compete in qualifiers Thursday. The discus final is Friday, and the other finals are Saturday.
ACC EXPANSION: Virginia Gov. Mark Warner urged the NCAA or a mediator to intervene in the ACC expansion plan to avoid a long, expensive legal battle.
The state's "interests as a whole will be ensured" if Virginia of the ACC and Virginia Tech of the Big East stay in major conferences, Warner said.
NCAA president Myles Brand said his organization has no authority in such cases.
The NCAA, however, will provide whatever help it can, including third-party mediation if "an invitation to do so was forthcoming from all parties," he said.
The presidents and chancellors from the nine ACC schools held a conference call, but no formal vote was taken to invite Miami, Boston College and Syracuse.
ALABAMA: Defensive coordinator Joe Kines was named an assistant head coach.
TENNESSEE: A meeting between coach Phillip Fulmer, his attorney and a witness in a rape investigation involving a football player was not improper but casts "an odd light on the case," Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols said. The player, who has not been named, was disciplined for "using bad judgment," Fulmer said.
TULANE: The university will remain in Division I-A and keep football after a five-week study of its athletic department, which loses $7-million a year.
WASHINGTON: Fullback Zach Tuiasosopo faces three months in jail if convicted of charges he punched windows out of four cars after a sorority party. He will be arraigned July 17.
- Times staff writers Greg Auman and Pete Young contributed to this report, which includes information from Times wires.
