BC Football Player Admits to Facts for Indecent Assault and Battery; Case Continued for Two Years

Boston College football player Brady Smith Wednesday admitted to sufficient facts in the charges of indecent assault and battery following an incident on April 19, 2008 when he allegedly broke into a woman's on-campus dorm room and "put his hand down her pants." Brighton Municipal Court Judge James Coffey ordered the case continued for two years rather than immediately send the case to trial -- meaning that, if Smith keeps his hands clean, he will not see any jail time.

Smith is one of four members of last season's BC football team to face criminal charges of assault and battery. The other three players' cases are pending.

Smith had originally been arrested by BC police, and subsequently arraigned, on rape and breaking and entering charges, to which he pleaded not guilty at the time of his arraignment. The Suffolk County District Attorney's office recommended the case be continued on the lesser charges of indecent assault and battery based on the evidence and the desire of the victim, who plans to complete her studies in the near future, to "resolve the case before she graduates," according to the Allston-Brighton TAB.

Smith's admission of sufficient facts in the case means that he would "likely be found guilty should [the case] go to trial," according to Jake Wark, press secretary for the DA's office. Smith's admission does not represent a change in his plea in the case.

The conditions imposed by the judge for the continuation of the case include a recommendation to the Department of Probation that Smith attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and regularly submit to urine testing both for alcohol and illicit drugs. Should Smith violate the terms of the continuance within the next two years -- such as re-offending -- then the judge could order the case be sent to trial.

Should Smith keep to the terms of the continuance, however, the charges would likely be dismissed after two years. Wark noted that the admission of sufficient facts and the continuance would stay on Smith's record after that time; sealing an adult's record could be requested by defense counsel, but would be unusual for an adult defendant.

After Smith's arraignment in April, BC suspended him from classes and he was permanently dismissed from the football team.

Two other BC football players, Gosder Cherilus and DeJuan Tribble, have their next court date on June 11th in the Central Division of the Boston Municipal Court. They were charged with assault and battery after an incident at The Greatest Bar in July 2007. Running back A. J. Brooks was scheduled to go to trial this month on assault and battery charges stemming from a November 2007 incident on-campus. Like Smith, Brooks was kicked off the team and suspended indefinitely from the school; Cherilus and Tribble, however, continued to play last season and both were drafted by the NFL last month to play Detroit and San Diego, respectively.


Image of gavel by vitualis provided through a Creative Commons license.

BC Football Player Charged With Rape and B&E

The Boston Globe and Boston Herald reported that Boston College football defensive end Brady Smith has been charged with rape and breaking and entering. (EDIT: Press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office is here.)

This follows running back A. J. Brooks being charged with assault and battery in November 2007, and Gosder Cherilus and DeJuan Tribble being charged with assault and battery in August 2007 based on a July 2007 incident at The Greatest Bar near North Station.

Legal Trouble for Another BC Football Player

While the Boston College football team has impressed the ACC with their 10-2 season record and a birth in the ACC championship game this Saturday, they will be playing without backup running back A. J. Brooks, who has been suspended indefinitely from the school.

Brooks has been charged with "assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (his shoe)" stemming from an incident Sunday night in which he allegedly kicked a visitor to BC in the face. (The Boston Globe and Boston Herald erroneously reported earlier that the victim was a residential adviser/assistant.)

Brooks's legal problems add on top of two other BC football players -- DeJuan Tribble and Gosder Cherilus, who were arrested over the summer after a fight in a North Station bar, and later charged with assault and battery. (The Boston Globe article strangely only notes their arrest but not that they were charged.)

Neither Tribble nor Cherilus were suspended for their actions over the summer, while Brooks was suspended without delay. All three were charged with the same assault and battery. The Greatest Bar incident at North Station led to the victim, Sean Maney, needing emergency spinal surgery a couple of days later. (Maney was also charged in the incident, as was off-duty State Police Sgt. Joseph Boike.) BC football coach Jeff Jagodzinski did not respond to the Globe's request to describe why (backup running back) Brooks was suspended, while (starters) Cherilus and Tribble were not; Jagodzinski only said that each case is treated separately.

Methinks it smells suspiciously like the star players getting preferential treatment over the expendable backup player.

Woman Assaulted During Purse-Snatching on Chestnut Hill Avenue

Boston Police Department report on a purse-snatching and assault at Chestnut Hill Avenue and Strathmore Road early this morning (via UniversalHub) :

Woman Assault During Purse Snap

This morning at about 12:09am, officers from District 14 responded to a larceny report at 1925 Commonwealth Avenue. Upon arrival, officer spoke with the victim who stated that while walking home on Chestnut Hill Avenue she was assaulted and robbed by two unknown black males (mid 20's med build, suspect #1 red shirt blue jeans, suspect #2 white shirt blue jeans). The victim stated that she approached by the two suspects at the corner of Chestnut Hill Avenue and Stratmore [sic] Road. Victim states that suspect #1 punched her in her face while the other suspect #2 ripped her handbag from her hand and fled on foot down Stratmore [sic] Road toward Commonwealth Av. At this time, the victim ran to an apartment at 1925 Commonwealth Avenue were she called 911. The descriptions of the suspects were broadcasted. Victim reports that her I Pod and other important documents were inside her bag. Officer observed victim with a swollen lip but she declined medical attention. Officer searched the area to no avail.