Police/Legal Blotter

[BB73]

si.com

Cougars tackle sentenced

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -- Washington State starting defensive tackle Ropati Pitoitua will spend two days in jail after pleading guilty to an alcohol-related driving offense.

Pitoitua, 20, had 73 days of a 75-day term suspended after pleading guilty Thursday in Whitman County District Court to operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol, and a related probation violation.

The 6-foot-8, 300-pound tackle from Spanaway asked to serve the sentence outside Whitman County. He has 30 days to arrange that with a probation officer before beginning the jail term.
Pitoitua also was fined $750 and will be on probation for two years.

The sentence stems from incidents in April, when he was cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol, and May 7, when he was arrested for driving after consuming alcohol.

Pitoitua played eight games as a true freshman last season, finishing with 24 tackles and five sacks.

Pitoitua was the second Cougar football player in court in Whitman County during the week.

On Monday, running back Kevin McCall was sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading guilty to fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation.

Coach Bill Doba issued a statement Thursday about McCall's prospects with the team.

"This is an unfortunate situation for both Kevin and the young woman involved," Doba said. "When Kevin has finished serving his sentence, I will speak with him and make a decision regarding his status with the Cougar football team."

[sandgk]

The victim of a 2003 assault has revived the Civil suit he previously avowed to dismiss.

Jackson sued for $10M

Victim from 2003 incident says he's been unable to work
Saturday, May 28, 2005BY NATHAN FENNO

News Sports Reporter An Ypsilanti man is suing former University of Michigan football player Marlin Jackson for $10 million over a 2003 altercation.

In the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, Shahin Farokhrany alleges he's suffered permanent vision loss, mental and physical anguish, and "general damages in the millions of dollars" after the June 1, 2003 incident.

Jackson, who was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts last month, pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor aggravated assault on Aug. 14, 2003 as part of a plea agreement and was later sentenced to probation. The charge stemmed from a party where Jackson admitted to hitting Farokhrany in the right eye, but denied hitting him with a bottle, as Farokhrany claimed.


After the August hearing, Farokhrany expressed a desire to move on.

"I love Michigan football and I'm proud of him," Farokhrany told reporters. "One day I'll see him in the NFL or something. Sometimes, people get drunk and make mistakes. Hopefully, he won't be hitting people in the face again."

Farokhrany also told reporters after the 2003 hearing that he didn't suffer any permanent damage to his vision and would not pursue civil action against Jackson.

But the lawsuit again contends that Jackson hit Farokhrany with a bottle, and Farokhrany has needed continued medical care, has been limited in attending school and has been unable to work since the incident.

Jackson's agent, Doug Hendrickson of Octagon, could not be reached for comment.

A message left for Farokhrany's attorney, Michael Behan, was not returned.

Nathan Fenno can be reached at nfenno@annarbornews.com or (734) 994-6835

There goes Marlin's signing bonus.

[Southpaw Stone]

Originally Posted by sandgk

There goes Marlin's signing bonus.

I wonder if he would be suing him if he never made it to the NFL.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by Southpaw Stone

I wonder if he would be suing him if he never made it to the NFL.

Nope, seems doubtful, as you can't get blood out of a stone.

If Jackson fails to make his squad, does the suit get dropped?

[sandgk]

Guess with 11 arrested in such a short period even FF Phil Fulmer had to draw the line somewhere. The Whizzinator like dope test failure was indeed the last straw.
Source Shelbyville Paper.

Parker: Banks denied another chance

DANNY PARKER
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Recently former University of Tennessee wide receiver James Banks asked for yet another chance at lining up in orange and white. Not surprisingly, UT coach Phil Fulmer and athletic director Mike Hamilton shot down the idea before it ever really even got started.

The fact that Banks re-enrolled in school this spring at a small Division III school in his home state of Indiana to get his grades up and become eligible is a step in the right direction.

<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4" width="91"><tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#eeeeee">
UT coach Phillip Fulmer passed on James Banks' attempts at getting re-instated to the football team. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] </td></tr></tbody></table>He probably needs football along with an education to get him back on the proper track. That track doesn't run through Knoxville, though.

A star quarterback at Indianapolis' Ben Davis High, he continually lived on the edge when he was still on the Vol roster.

Banks, who was arrested for underage drinking and violating a noise ordinance, had charges filed against him but later dropped in both cases.

Is it really that hard to wait till you are 21-years-old to start drinking? If a cop tells you to turn your car stereo down, you don't respond by pumping up the volume.

Goodness, James, if you wanted to hear music that loud, you could have just done some two-stepping at Cotton Eyed Joe's.

On his last leg in the fall, shortly after being suspended for the first part of the 2004 season, Banks blew his knee out in practice.

That was the beginning of the end as the extra time just sitting around led back to marijuana use, as he admitted.

I'm not sure how they rehabilitate in Indy, but typically narcotics don't regenerate knee ligaments or enhance the healing process in any way.

Fulmer dismissed Banks in December after Banks' seemingly fourth or fifth chance. No tellin' how many other instances Fulmer didn't go public with.

<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4" width="150"><tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#eeeeee">
James Banks hauls in a pass during Media Day last year. (T-G Photo by Ben Boggess)
[Click to enlarge] </td></tr></tbody></table>With the number of UT football players who have been either arrested or cited since February 2004 up to 11, no one in Knoxville is in position to hand out sixth chances.

It's more of a "Thanks for coming out, God bless, good luck," sort of thing at this point.

Current Vols should take note of the life Banks created for himself and keep their noses in the books and facing the gridiron. Chances like these don't come around often.

I hope that Daniel Brooks, Britton Colquitt, Bret Smith and Tony McDaniel are listening.

Part of the reason history is recorded and taught is so we don't repeat past mistakes.

How many stars you had next to your name in high school and the number of college touchdowns become irrelevant once you cross the line for a big-time school like UT. Note Reggie Cobb, Nilo Silvan, Chuck Webb, Tony Robinson and Onterrio Smith, just to name a few.

Never fear though, James, there's always the National Football League. If you're as talented as some say you are or were, then you'll get your shot. All of the aforementioned, with the exception of Robinson, got their lottery tickets punched by NFL teams.

Banks does appear to be trying. He's back in school. He's at least wanting to put his past behind him and strap on gear again. Others would sit around and whine about how they blew it or were culturally biased upon.

If he can catch Hail Marys in the end zone in Gainesville, he can find a home somewhere.

Danny Parker is a Times-Gazette sports writer.

And from Knoxville TV station this report summary which includes the tale of Banks failing a urine test after submitting a diluted sample, with the wrong temperature...

[jwinslow]

(CFB News)

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