Brazilian authorities have charged the wife of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti with first-degree murder on Sunday following his death at a posh seaside tourist resort in Brazil.
Police said 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody after contradictions in her interrogation. The Canadian boxer's body was found early Saturday in a hotel room at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil.
The former junior welterweight champion from Montreal was apparently strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found at the scene with blood stains, said Milena Saraiva, a spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state civil police. She told The Associated Press that Gatti also sustained a head injury.
While the investigation was not complete, Saraiva said authorities were preparing to present a formal accusation against Rodrigues, who denied being involved in her husband's death.
Police said Rodrigues, a Brazilian, could not explain how she spent nearly 10 hours in the room without noticing that Gatti was already dead.
Police were investigating witness reports that the couple fought and Gatti was drunk when he returned to his room Friday night, Saraiva said, adding that police were told the couple were extremely jealous of each other and that he constantly complained of her clothing when she travelled to Brazil.
Acelino (Popo) Freitas, a four-time world champion Brazilian boxer, told Globo TV's website on Saturday that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife and that he "knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate."
The couple's one-year-old son, who was unhurt, was handed to Rodrigues's sister, Saraiva said.
The 37-year-old Gatti, whose epic trilogy with Micky Ward branded him one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, retired in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.
Known for his straightforward punching and granite-like chin, Gatti captured the junior welterweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City, N.J.
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Former MN Gopher football player sentenced to year in jail for 4th degree CSC
(Originally Posted 5-31-08)Dominic Jones, a former Minnesota Gophers football player, was sentenced to a year in the workhouse (which is work release for those who aren't from Minnesota), four more years in prison suspended, 7 years probation, and $1000 restitution. The sentence comes on the heels on his conviction for 4th degree criminal sexual conduct.
In March, a jury convicted him of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, which involves performing a sex act on a victim without her consent. It acquitted him on a rape charge.
During the weeklong trial, jurors saw cell-phone video that appeared to show Jones masturbating over an 18-year-old woman in April 2007. Jones testified she consented to it.
The victim testified during the trial that she drank up to eight shots of vodka with another player before the act and didn't remember anything between when she was placed on a couch and the next morning.
On Thursday, the victim read a statement in court. She said, "I drank into myself helplessness ... but i did not ask to be raped." She added, "Yes, I have been sexually assaulted, and no, I will never get over it."
Jones was kicked off of the team when the charges were filed and eventually kicked out of the University Of Minnesota. Collateral consequences include registering as a predatory sex offender, getting sex offender treatment, and having no contact with the victim. His attorney, Earl Gray, says he will appeal both conviction and sentence. Three other players were investigated, but never charged in the assault. The sentencing judge was Hennepin County District Judge Marilyn Rosenbaum.
(Update 3-14-09) Jones was released from the workhouse after 8 months on March 2, but probation, which includes completion of sex offender treatment, has just begun. He was denied a chance to try out with the NFL in Ohio this weekend because he hasn't started sex offender treatment. The judge who made the ruling is the same judge who heard Jones' original sexual assault case.
Assistant County Attorney Marlene Senechal, who heads the violent crimes division, argued that Jones should not be allowed to go because he is an "untreated sex offender" and his chances of playing in the NFL are "unrealistic." She said, "It would be inappropriate for him to leave the state."
[Defense Attorney Earl] Gray took issue with Senechal's characterization of Jones' chances, saying he should at least be given an opportunity to try out for the NFL. "In order to be successful on probation, it would seem to me a man should be able to pursue his career," Gray said.
Rosenbloom agreed that Jones had met all requirements of his sentence, and suggested that after sex offender treatment commences, if another NFL tryout occured, she may change her mind.
Monday, June 2, 2008
After 7 1/2 month investigation, University of Iowa football players charged with sex assault
After 7.5 months, the University of Iowa obtained arrest warrants for two former University of Iowa football players accused of raping a fellow student at a dorm October 14. According to the complaint, Abe Satterfield of Erie, PA gave Cedric Evenson, 18, of Detroit access to the dorm room of the victim, and that Evenson had sexual contact with the sleeping victim.
According to the criminal complaint, "The victim was not even aware (the) defendant was having sexual intercourse with her." DNA evidence linked Evenson to the assault.
Both will be charged with second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony punishable by a 25-year prison term. Satterfield also will be charged with third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony, a possible 10-year prison term.
Evenson, arrested on a warrant charging him with 2nd degree sexual abuse, was held on $10,000 bond Friday. A no-contact order was issued on behalf of the alleged victim. Satterfield had not turned himself into Iowa authorities as of Friday, May 30. He is expected to turn himself in on June 2 for his preliminary hearing.
Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said both players have local attorneys and plan to surrender in Iowa City. Once they are jailed, Lyness will file formal charges.
"I think they're both going to try to do that, if they can afford to," Lyness said. "If not, then they're probably going to be picked up where they are, and we'll extradite them back. But I don't think they'll fight extradition."
The woman reported the incident to Public Safety on November 7, and police obtained evidence from Hillcrest Hall on November 14. Police turned over the evidence to Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness in December.
The investigation spanned nearly two semesters and became a burden to all parties. Public scrutiny intensified toward the University of Iowa and its athletics department, local law enforcement, the football team, the accused players and the alleged victim. Lyness said the woman was harassed, and a university news release stated, "The Johnson County Attorney's Office said Tuesday that the safety and well-being of the reported victim was paramount in the decision about when to file the charges." The woman has left Iowa City, and Lyness declined to say if she will return to the University of Iowa.
Lyness defended herself after the complaints that the investigation took too long. Satterfield and Everson were removed from the team within days of the alleged incident. In December, the school announced they were transferring to other schools. Satterfield is enrolled at Indiana (Pa.) University, and Everson signed with Alcorn State (Miss.) University but does not appear on the roster.
The legal process has weighed heavily on their families as well."Like any other family would think," said Pearline Hobson, Satterfield's grandmother, when asked for her thoughts. "God is going to prevail."
Her daughter, Kim Hobson, Satterfield's mother, echoed the same sentiments.
"The joy of the Lord is my strength. Jesus is his lawyer and Jesus is his judge and God will prevail."
The athletics department and university may have received the most scrutiny since the allegations. Since April 2007, 17 different football players have been arrested, including five for felonies. The state Board of Regents asked Lyness for a report on the case, Gov. Chet Culver called for a thorough probe, and the university was sued by a local newspaper after withholding several documents after an open records request.
"Once it became a criminal investigation, we had cooperation from the University of Iowa," Lyness said. When asked if the university had problems handling the incident before it became a criminal investigation, Lyness said, "I can't really comment on that."
Lyness said she expects further discussion on how UI officials handled the woman's complaint. Additionally, she said, the entire university, beyond campus police, could benefit from implementing practices used by the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team. Such practices include getting advocates for victims and not interviewing victims repeatedly following an assault, she said.
Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta defended his department and showed concern for the victim.
"The one thing that I continue to be confident about is that for our staff, our first concern was for the woman involved. And then we went directly through the university process and university procedure. I'm confident that everybody involved from my staff and throughout the university did their very best throughout that process.I understand that a lot of people want to know kind of what happened and what was the timeline and what was the process, but right now the rights of the alleged victim, of the accused and the people involved have to override the desire of the media and for the public for immediate access."
(Update 6-3-08) Satterfield turned himself in this morning. The charges of 2nd and 3rd degree sexual abuse were formally read. Surprisingly, the 2nd degree charge stems from the alleged facilitation of Evenson's alleged assault. The 3rd degree charges comes from Satterfield's own sexual encounter with the victim.
Authorities accuse Satterfield and an unidentified man of entering room N207 at Hillcrest Hall on Oct. 14, 2007 between midnight and 6 a.m. After the other man left the room, “the defendant (Satterfield) forced the victim to have sexual intercourse with him, even after the victim told him she did not want to do so. The defendant admitted to having sex with the victim,” according to the complaint on his third-degree charge.
He is being held on $10,000 bond and is under a no-contact order for the victim.
According to the criminal complaint, "The victim was not even aware (the) defendant was having sexual intercourse with her." DNA evidence linked Evenson to the assault.
Both will be charged with second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony punishable by a 25-year prison term. Satterfield also will be charged with third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony, a possible 10-year prison term.
Evenson, arrested on a warrant charging him with 2nd degree sexual abuse, was held on $10,000 bond Friday. A no-contact order was issued on behalf of the alleged victim. Satterfield had not turned himself into Iowa authorities as of Friday, May 30. He is expected to turn himself in on June 2 for his preliminary hearing.
Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said both players have local attorneys and plan to surrender in Iowa City. Once they are jailed, Lyness will file formal charges.
"I think they're both going to try to do that, if they can afford to," Lyness said. "If not, then they're probably going to be picked up where they are, and we'll extradite them back. But I don't think they'll fight extradition."
The woman reported the incident to Public Safety on November 7, and police obtained evidence from Hillcrest Hall on November 14. Police turned over the evidence to Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness in December.
The investigation spanned nearly two semesters and became a burden to all parties. Public scrutiny intensified toward the University of Iowa and its athletics department, local law enforcement, the football team, the accused players and the alleged victim. Lyness said the woman was harassed, and a university news release stated, "The Johnson County Attorney's Office said Tuesday that the safety and well-being of the reported victim was paramount in the decision about when to file the charges." The woman has left Iowa City, and Lyness declined to say if she will return to the University of Iowa.
Lyness defended herself after the complaints that the investigation took too long. Satterfield and Everson were removed from the team within days of the alleged incident. In December, the school announced they were transferring to other schools. Satterfield is enrolled at Indiana (Pa.) University, and Everson signed with Alcorn State (Miss.) University but does not appear on the roster.
The legal process has weighed heavily on their families as well."Like any other family would think," said Pearline Hobson, Satterfield's grandmother, when asked for her thoughts. "God is going to prevail."
Her daughter, Kim Hobson, Satterfield's mother, echoed the same sentiments.
"The joy of the Lord is my strength. Jesus is his lawyer and Jesus is his judge and God will prevail."
The athletics department and university may have received the most scrutiny since the allegations. Since April 2007, 17 different football players have been arrested, including five for felonies. The state Board of Regents asked Lyness for a report on the case, Gov. Chet Culver called for a thorough probe, and the university was sued by a local newspaper after withholding several documents after an open records request.
"Once it became a criminal investigation, we had cooperation from the University of Iowa," Lyness said. When asked if the university had problems handling the incident before it became a criminal investigation, Lyness said, "I can't really comment on that."
Lyness said she expects further discussion on how UI officials handled the woman's complaint. Additionally, she said, the entire university, beyond campus police, could benefit from implementing practices used by the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team. Such practices include getting advocates for victims and not interviewing victims repeatedly following an assault, she said.
Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta defended his department and showed concern for the victim.
"The one thing that I continue to be confident about is that for our staff, our first concern was for the woman involved. And then we went directly through the university process and university procedure. I'm confident that everybody involved from my staff and throughout the university did their very best throughout that process.I understand that a lot of people want to know kind of what happened and what was the timeline and what was the process, but right now the rights of the alleged victim, of the accused and the people involved have to override the desire of the media and for the public for immediate access."
(Update 6-3-08) Satterfield turned himself in this morning. The charges of 2nd and 3rd degree sexual abuse were formally read. Surprisingly, the 2nd degree charge stems from the alleged facilitation of Evenson's alleged assault. The 3rd degree charges comes from Satterfield's own sexual encounter with the victim.
Authorities accuse Satterfield and an unidentified man of entering room N207 at Hillcrest Hall on Oct. 14, 2007 between midnight and 6 a.m. After the other man left the room, “the defendant (Satterfield) forced the victim to have sexual intercourse with him, even after the victim told him she did not want to do so. The defendant admitted to having sex with the victim,” according to the complaint on his third-degree charge.
He is being held on $10,000 bond and is under a no-contact order for the victim.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
University of Arizona football player charged with sex assault
A University of Arizona football player was indicted on sexual assault charges after an incident which occured last April 2. Johnathan Turner, 23, was indicted May 16, according to a Pima County sheriff's department spokeswoman. The victim was a fellow UA student.
The indictment stems from an incident April 2 when the victim told authorities she and some of her friends were drinking at a residence near North Camino de Oeste and West Sweetwater Drive, Hanke said. The victim said she passed out on a couch and woke up around 2:30 a.m. to find Turner sexually assaulting her, according to a search-warrant affidavit filed in Pima County Superior Court shortly after the incident.
The victim said she pushed Turner off her, went into a bedroom and told her friend what had just happened, the affidavit said.
"Mr. Turner followed her into the bedroom and stated nothing had happened," the search-warrant affidavit said. "He described (the victim) as 'tripping out.' He continued to state he was just 'cuddling' with (the victim)."
The victim was taken to St. Mary's Hospital by her friends, and sheriff's adult-sex-crimes detectives investigated. DNA evidence was obtained, along with two quilts and seat cushions from the couch, the search warrant shows.
Turner, from Corona, Calif., was not booked into jail, Hanke said. He is a junior defensive end for the UA football team and a sociology major. The charge, a Class 2 felony, carries 5 to 14 years in prison.
Coach Mike Stoops suspended Turner from the team on April 5, supposedly for unspecified reasons, but had been monitoring the investigation, which fingered Turner as a person of interest early.
"I'm obviously aware of the situation, and I will let the judicial system take its course," Stoops said. "We'll have some kind of statement when it moves further."
Stoops will meet with Athletic Director Jim Livengood this week to talk about Turner's status. For now, Turner will remain on scholarship but will not be able to practice or work out with the team, Stoops said.
"I really haven't talked to Jim about that or the university," Stoops said. "I'm sure we'll discuss that and what's best for all parties, and make some kind of decision this week."
According to the university's student athlete code of conduct, Turner could lose his scholarship [No duh! He'll be losing a lot more than that - like freedom, on not having the stigma of being a sex offender.]
Turner, a 6-foot-3-inch, 263-pounder, was expected to start this fall at defensive end. He has 25 career starts, third-highest on the team.
The indictment stems from an incident April 2 when the victim told authorities she and some of her friends were drinking at a residence near North Camino de Oeste and West Sweetwater Drive, Hanke said. The victim said she passed out on a couch and woke up around 2:30 a.m. to find Turner sexually assaulting her, according to a search-warrant affidavit filed in Pima County Superior Court shortly after the incident.
The victim said she pushed Turner off her, went into a bedroom and told her friend what had just happened, the affidavit said.
"Mr. Turner followed her into the bedroom and stated nothing had happened," the search-warrant affidavit said. "He described (the victim) as 'tripping out.' He continued to state he was just 'cuddling' with (the victim)."
The victim was taken to St. Mary's Hospital by her friends, and sheriff's adult-sex-crimes detectives investigated. DNA evidence was obtained, along with two quilts and seat cushions from the couch, the search warrant shows.
Turner, from Corona, Calif., was not booked into jail, Hanke said. He is a junior defensive end for the UA football team and a sociology major. The charge, a Class 2 felony, carries 5 to 14 years in prison.
Coach Mike Stoops suspended Turner from the team on April 5, supposedly for unspecified reasons, but had been monitoring the investigation, which fingered Turner as a person of interest early.
"I'm obviously aware of the situation, and I will let the judicial system take its course," Stoops said. "We'll have some kind of statement when it moves further."
Stoops will meet with Athletic Director Jim Livengood this week to talk about Turner's status. For now, Turner will remain on scholarship but will not be able to practice or work out with the team, Stoops said.
"I really haven't talked to Jim about that or the university," Stoops said. "I'm sure we'll discuss that and what's best for all parties, and make some kind of decision this week."
According to the university's student athlete code of conduct, Turner could lose his scholarship [No duh! He'll be losing a lot more than that - like freedom, on not having the stigma of being a sex offender.]
Turner, a 6-foot-3-inch, 263-pounder, was expected to start this fall at defensive end. He has 25 career starts, third-highest on the team.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Nebraska Offensive Lineman pleads not guilty to sexual assault
Lanmcaster County, NE District Judge Steve Burns accepted Nebraska COrnhusker offensive lineman Andy Christensen's not guilty plea to sexual assault and resisting arrest for an incident at a bar in March. Judge Burns set a trial date for July 14.
The 21-year-old was arrested early March 8 after a 23-year-old woman reported he had assaulted her inside the Brass Rail, 1436 O St.According to police reports, Christensen approached the woman, whom he knew, reached up under her skirt from behind and groped her.
Police were dispatched to the bar at about 12:35 a.m., shortly after the incident occurred.Christensen was arrested outside the bar but, according to police reports, he resisted officers’ attempts to handcuff him and put him in a police vehicle.
The 6'-3", 310 lb Christensen kicked the vehicles and at the officers, causing a dent in the police car. At the Lancaster County Jail, authorities had to place him in a security chair because of his behavior. He lated bonded out on $3000,000 bail.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Boston College defensive end arrested, suspended on sexual assault charges
Brady Smith, a star defensive end from Maryland who played on Boston College's 2007 team who went 11-3, was suspended from the team and university after a sexual assault and burglary allegation on campus. Bail was set at $50,000 and Smith was ordered to stay away from the woman and BC.
According to the DA, Smith went into a fellow 21 year old student's dorm early Saturday morning and sexually assaulted her as she slept. SHe woke up screaming, and he ran, but was caught by BC police. The victim was able to pick Smith out of a lineup.
BC spokesman Jack Dunn stated that Smith will be suspended pending the outcome of his court case. “Brady Smith was issued a summary suspension from the university as a result of an alleged assault last evening or early this morning. The university has a right to issue summary suspension for incidents that are deemed to be of a serious nature. That suspension remains in effect pending the outcome of court proceedings.”
Boston College Eagles football coach Jeff Jagodzinski issued a press release yesterday saying Smith had been indefinitely suspended from the team for an “undisclosed violation of team rules.” The release said Jagodzinski would have no further comment.
Smith was offered a scholarship to play at BC, according to The Heights, BC's student newspaper. Calls to his parents were not returned. Smith had 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks during the 12 games he started.
According to the DA, Smith went into a fellow 21 year old student's dorm early Saturday morning and sexually assaulted her as she slept. SHe woke up screaming, and he ran, but was caught by BC police. The victim was able to pick Smith out of a lineup.
BC spokesman Jack Dunn stated that Smith will be suspended pending the outcome of his court case. “Brady Smith was issued a summary suspension from the university as a result of an alleged assault last evening or early this morning. The university has a right to issue summary suspension for incidents that are deemed to be of a serious nature. That suspension remains in effect pending the outcome of court proceedings.”
Boston College Eagles football coach Jeff Jagodzinski issued a press release yesterday saying Smith had been indefinitely suspended from the team for an “undisclosed violation of team rules.” The release said Jagodzinski would have no further comment.
Smith was offered a scholarship to play at BC, according to The Heights, BC's student newspaper. Calls to his parents were not returned. Smith had 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks during the 12 games he started.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Chicago area college basketball player charged with sexual assault
Charles Peden, a 19 year old student from Maywood, a suburb of Chicago, was arrested on charges of 3rd degree sexual abuse for the alleged rape of a 18 year old junior college student who went to Indian Hills Community College, located in Ottumwa, IA where a basketball tounarment the Wilbur Wright City College basketball team was playing at. Other team members are still under investigation for the alleged attack.
[He] was arrested in the western suburb Wednesday on a fugitive warrant from Wapello County, Iowa. He is being held at Cook County Jail and plans to fight extradition to Iowa, Cook County court officials said.
While Iowa officials were conducting the investigation and waiting for DNA evidence results, Wright College allowed the team members to remain on the squad for the duration of their season, which ended earlier this month.
The college president told Wright's student newspaper last month that team members had been disciplined for some behavior related to the incident at the Ottumwa Days Inn.According to court records, the alleged victim and three of her friends met Wright College team members Nov. 30 when they were playing a tournament at Indian Hills.They exchanged phone numbers, and some of the players called the women the following night to invite them to hang out at the Days Inn where they were staying.
The women, all 18 at the time, told police they went to the hotel and began drinking with about seven players and a member of the coaching staff, according to the affidavit for a search warrant for two Days Inn hotel rooms.
At around 12:30 AM on December 2, the victim's friends found themselves being pushed into, then locked in a bathroom, and when they were let out, they could not find the alleged victim.
four players ran into the next room when another door was opened. They found the victim passed out, with semen covering her chest and neck. There was also vomit in her mouth, and th friends called police. When she was taken to the local hospital, she tested with a BAC of 0.175. She was bleeding, and hairs which didn't belong to her were found on her body. when taken to the hospital.
The victim told police that she darnk and hung out with the players, but did not remember sex with any of them.
[He] was arrested in the western suburb Wednesday on a fugitive warrant from Wapello County, Iowa. He is being held at Cook County Jail and plans to fight extradition to Iowa, Cook County court officials said.
While Iowa officials were conducting the investigation and waiting for DNA evidence results, Wright College allowed the team members to remain on the squad for the duration of their season, which ended earlier this month.
The college president told Wright's student newspaper last month that team members had been disciplined for some behavior related to the incident at the Ottumwa Days Inn.According to court records, the alleged victim and three of her friends met Wright College team members Nov. 30 when they were playing a tournament at Indian Hills.They exchanged phone numbers, and some of the players called the women the following night to invite them to hang out at the Days Inn where they were staying.
The women, all 18 at the time, told police they went to the hotel and began drinking with about seven players and a member of the coaching staff, according to the affidavit for a search warrant for two Days Inn hotel rooms.
At around 12:30 AM on December 2, the victim's friends found themselves being pushed into, then locked in a bathroom, and when they were let out, they could not find the alleged victim.
four players ran into the next room when another door was opened. They found the victim passed out, with semen covering her chest and neck. There was also vomit in her mouth, and th friends called police. When she was taken to the local hospital, she tested with a BAC of 0.175. She was bleeding, and hairs which didn't belong to her were found on her body. when taken to the hospital.
The victim told police that she darnk and hung out with the players, but did not remember sex with any of them.
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