A charge of misdemeanor battery led to a warrant accusing LB Willie Williams of violating his probation.
By Wire services
Published February 10, 2004
MIAMI - An arrest warrant was issued for Miami's top football recruit Monday, accusing him of violating his probation while on a recruiting visit to Florida last month.
Willie Williams, 19, was charged with misdemeanor battery by state officials in Gainesville after a woman said he hugged her without permission. That charge spurred the issuing of a warrant in Broward County, where Williams is on probation for pleading no contest to felony burglary in 2002.
Williams' 18-month probation term was to end Wednesday. Now he may face up to five years in prison, the maximum on the burglary charge, plus an uncertain future with the Hurricanes.
"I am not talking to the officials at Miami at this point. I know they are taking a wait-and-see attitude," said Paul Lazarus, Williams' attorney. "I am hopeful they will take Willie under their guidance and he will help them win a national championship."
Miami athletic director Paul Dee said in a statement the school was monitoring the case. Though the linebacker out of Miami Carol City High has accepted a scholarship, Miami could rescind it under NCAA rules. Williams, a Parade All-American, chose Miami over Florida State, Florida and Auburn.
Lazarus said he was filing a motion asking a Broward judge to allow Williams to surrender voluntarily. Police said Williams also hit a man at a bar and set off three fire extinguishers in his Gainesville hotel. "The other two (complaints) are still being investigated," State Attorney's Office spokesman Spencer Mann said.
Miami officials said last week they were unaware Williams had been arrested 10 times from 1999 through 2002, mostly for burglary and theft-related charges, an admission that Dee said showed the background-checking process was "insufficient."
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BIG EAST SUIT: The ACC was removed as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by four Big East schools over its acceptance of Miami and Boston College, which are leaving the conference. Superior Court Judge Samuel Sferrazza ruled the ACC did not have sufficient ties to Connecticut to be sued there.
Attorneys for Boston College and members of the ACC's governing body asked that the cases against them also be dismissed. Sferrazza heard arguments on that request but did not issue a ruling.
Connecticut, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and West Virginia argue the ACC, Miami and Boston College conspired to weaken the Big East.
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COLORADO: Joyce Lawrence, who is leading an investigation into recruiting practices at the university, said she will not resign, despite suggesting women put themselves at risk of sexual assault by attending alcohol-fueled sex parties.
Lawrence said she did not mean to suggest victims bore some responsibility. She and another former lawmaker, Peggy Lamm, are investigating allegations the university used alcohol and sex parties to entice top recruits. Three women filed federal lawsuits against the school, saying they were raped at or after a December 2001 off-campus party attended by football players and recruits.
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UMASS: Don Brown, the Minutemen's defensive coordinator when they won the I-AA national championship in 1998, was hired as coach, replacing Mark Whipple.
GOLF: Freshman Jessie Mudd's par 72 led Florida at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach. Mudd was sixth at 1-over 145 after the second round. The Gators were fourth (23-over 599), 22 behind leader South Carolina. Florida State was last among 18 teams at 326-298-624. ... The UF women were 13th at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., with 314. UCLA led at 286. Sophomore Aimee Cho led Florida at 3-over 74 and was tied for 12th.
HOCKEY: Ryan Murphy scored 6:07 into overtime to lift Boston College 2-1 over Boston University in the Beanpot championship. Murphy assisted on the tying goal with 3:30 left in regulation. It was BC's first title since 2001 in the tournament that matches thearea's four hockey powers. In the third-place game, Northeastern won 3-1 over Harvard.
SOFTBALL: FSU senior catcher Elisa Vasquez, who hit .500 with one home run and seven RBIs to help the team open the season with a sweep in the Seminole Classic, was named ACC player of the week. FSU (4-0) plays at Mercer on Wednesday, giving coach JoAnne Graf the chance to join the 1,000-win club for fast-pitch softball. Fresno State's Margie Wright (1,078) is the only Division I coach with more than 1,000. ... South Florida's Leigh Ann Ellis was named C-USA pitcher of the week. The senior picked up two wins and two saves to lead the Bulls to a 5-0 mark and tournament title at the GRU Classic in Gainesville.
TRACK AND FIELD: Florida's Candice Scott was named athlete of the week. The junior broke her collegiate record in the weight throw with a toss of 75 feet, 5.5 inches at Nebraska's Husker Invitational.
- Times staff writer Brian Landman contributed to this report.
