Police/Legal Blotter

[osugrad21]

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Maualuga in trouble again
BY SCOTT WOLF, Staff Writer

USC coach Pete Carroll disciplined linebacker Rey Maualuga following unruly behavior at an off-campus party following the Trojans' game over Washington on Oct. 7.
Carroll confirmed he took action against Maualuga but declined to give specifics.
"We've dealt with it internally," he said.
According to witnesses, Maualuga became aggressive during a fraternity party. Campus security eventually arrived at the scene, but no reports were filed with them or the Los Angeles Police Department.
"He was pushing people around," said a USC student who attended the party. "He did it to a lot of people."
Sources said part of the punishment was for Maualuga to continue to attend alcoholic and drug counseling meetings along with anger management. He agreed to those programs last spring after being charged with one misdemeanor count of battery stemming from punching a student at a Halloween party near campus last year.
Maualuga declined comment, but two weeks ago said he completed those courses.
"I've done what I need to do and I'm just concentrating on football," Maualuga said.
However, last Friday, Maualuga re-enrolled in some courses, according to sources. Under the original terms of the program, Maualuga was told to complete 24 hours of anger management counseling and attend 26 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, perform 100 hours of community service, formally apologize to the victim and the university, and begin a mentoring program with other athletes, said Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the city attorney's office. Sources said Carroll lectured the team Monday about problems occurring on Fraternity Row, where friction often takes place between athletes and fraternity members. Former wide receiver Marcell Allmond was suspended after getting into an altercation there in 2001. Matt Leinart also was involved in a fight there his freshman year.
Thomas surgery: Cornerback Kevin Thomas underwent surgery on his broken foot Thursday and might be back for a bowl game.
Carroll said he will not rush back freshman fullback Stanley Havili because he is eligible for a redshirt year. Another possibility for a redshirt could be defensive end Travis Tofi, who has been out the entire season with a fractured foot.

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I am not kidding you!

Assault or worse I could see, but attempted murder? Boy, talk about a life-changing moment for this kid.

Attempted murder charge filed in stabbing of punter By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer
October 19, 2006
DENVER (AP) -- Prosecutors filed a charge of attempted first-degree murder Thursday against a former University of Northern Colorado backup punter accused of stabbing the starter in his kicking leg in a case that drew comparisons to the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan rivalry.
Mitchell Cozad, 21, is accused of stabbing Rafael Mendoza on Sept. 11 outside Mendoza's apartment.
Cozad, of Wheatland, Wyo., also faces one count of second-degree assault. Prosecutors said he could face up to 48 years in prison if convicted.
Weld County district attorney's spokeswoman Jennifer Finch said a warrant was issued for Cozad's arrest, and bail would be set at $500,000. She said he was not yet in custody, and she did not know where he was.
Cozad's attorney, Joseph A. Gavaldon, did not immediately return a call. A man who answered Cozad's mobile phone number hung up without commenting.
Mendoza was treated for a 3- to 5-inch deep puncture wound in his right thigh and released. He has returned to the team.
Cozad was suspended from the team and the university.
Evans Police Lt. Gary Kessler has said the motive appeared to be competition for the starting job. The attack prompted comparisons to an attack by figure skater Harding's hit man on Kerrigan.
The severity of the charge surprised some.
"Based on the facts we've heard, it does sound a little over the top," said Scott Robinson, a Denver defense attorney and legal analyst.
Finch said that after their investigation, prosecutors felt the attempted murder and assault counts "were the appropriate charges." She did not elaborate.
Robinson added that prosecutors might be trying to pressure Cozad to identify an accomplice or intimidate him into accepting a plea bargain.
In mid-September, Kessler said witnesses saw an alleged accomplice standing near the getaway car just after Mendoza was stabbed.
"He didn't play a role in the assault, but he played a role in the crime," Kessler said at the time. "He was dressed in black clothing. He was involved in the aftermath of the incident."
Police also have said a liquor store employee called police not long after the attack to report two men were removing tape from the license plates of a nearby car. Once removed, the employee saw the license plate number read "8-KIKR," helping lead police to Cozad's family.
Police did not immediately return a call Thursday.
Northern Colorado spokesman Eric Scott said he could not comment. Mendoza did not immediately return a message.
Last month, Weld County District Attorney Kenneth R. Buck delayed filing charges in the case, saying he needed more information.
Mendoza told The Associated Press this month he is struggling with flashbacks from the attack.
"It's been tough and scary," he said. "It's hard for (my family), it's hard for me, it's hard for them wondering what's going to happen. But I know they (authorities) are doing their job. They're doing everything they possibly can to let justice run its course."

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Warrant out for arrest. Has till Monday to surrender.

Punter facing attempted-murder charge has until Monday to surrender By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer
October 20, 2006
GREELEY, Colo. (AP) -- A former University of Northern Colorado backup punter charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of his rival has until Monday to surrender to authorities, prosecutors said Friday.
Mitchell Cozad is accused of stabbing starter Rafael Mendoza in his kicking leg last month. The attack drew comparisons to an attack on Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan by Tonya Harding's hit man.
Cozad, 21, of Wheatland, Wyo., faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault and could be sentenced to 48 years in prison if convicted. He has been suspended from the team and the university.
His attorney, Joseph A. Gavaldon, did not immediately return a call.
Mendoza was attacked outside his apartment complex in Evans, a small town adjacent to Greeley, on Sept. 11. Evans Police Lt. Gary Kessler has said the motive appeared to be competition for the starting job.
Weld County district attorney's spokeswoman Jennifer Finch said prosecutors had not heard from Cozad on Friday and did not know where he was. She said he has until noon Monday to turn himself in.
She said his bail would be set at $500,000.
Prosecutors have not said why they filed an attempted-murder charge for an attack that left a 3- to 5-inch puncture wound. Mendoza was treated and released at a Greeley hospital and has returned to the team.
Finch has said prosecutors felt the attempted murder and assault counts were appropriate, but she did not elaborate. The affidavit for the arrest warrant, which usually outlines authorities' justification for arresting a suspect, was sealed.
Cozad first was arrested shortly after the attack and held for investigation of second-degree assault. But prosecutors said they needed more information and decided against filing charges at the time.
Investigators have said they were looking for an alleged accomplice. Finch said Friday there have been no other arrests in the case.
The Northern Colorado football team has no game this week and did not practice Friday. Mendoza did not respond to a message left with the university.
University spokesman Kyle Schwartz declined to comment.
"It's a criminal case now," he said. "We're going to let the players concentrate on football."

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Ending a 3-day man-wait Cozad the stabbing punter surrendered to police today.
SI

Cozad surrenders

N. Colorado punter released after posting $500K bail

Posted: Monday October 23, 2006 5:23PM; Updated: Monday October 23, 2006 5:41PM

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) -- A former University of Northern Colorado backup punter charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of his rival surrendered to authorities Monday and was released after posting $500,000 bail.
Mitchell Cozad is accused of stabbing starter Rafael Mendoza in his kicking leg last month in a crime that drew comparisons to the attack on Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan by Tonya Harding's hit man.
Cozad, 21, of Wheatland, Wyo., faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault and could be sentenced to 48 years in prison if convicted. He has been suspended from the team and the university.
His lawyer, Joseph A. Gavaldon, didn't immediately return calls.
Weld County district attorney's spokeswoman Jennifer Finch said Cozad surrendered to police in Loveland, about 20 miles west of Greeley in neighboring Larimer County, rather than at the Weld County jail in Greeley.
Finch said a hearing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 6 in Weld County District Court in Greeley.
Mendoza was attacked outside his apartment complex in Evans, a small town adjacent to Greeley, on Sept. 11. Evans Police Lt. Gary Kessler has said the motive appeared to be competition for the starting job.
Mendoza suffered a 3- to 5-inch puncture wound. He returned to the team and last week and averaged a career-high 47.8 yards on 10 punts, including a career-best 75-yarder in a loss to Eastern Washington.
Investigators have said they were looking for an alleged accomplice. Finch declined to comment on whether any other arrests had been made.
Kessler did not immediately return a call.
Northern Colorado athletic director Jay Hinrichs said university officials were "extremely disappointed" by Cozad's alleged actions.
"The judicial system will do what it does. District Attorney Kenneth Buck has his job to do," he said.

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Pair of Louisville WRs look like they won't have a ghost of chance of playing too soon. These two, who are not top of the depth chart at Da'Ville were arrested for firing a paintball gun at patrons of a popular Louisville attraction - The Haunted Hotel.

2 Louisville players suspended following arrest October 23, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Louisville wide receivers Chris Vaughn and Scott Long were suspended after being arrested on charges of second-degree assault for allegedly shooting a woman with a paintball gun Sunday.
Vaughn and Long were outside the Haunted Hotel in downtown Louisville early Sunday when they fired at people coming out of the building, Louisville Metro Police public information officer Dwight Mitchell said.
The incident occurred hours after the sixth-ranked Cardinals had returned from a win at Syracuse on Saturday afternoon.
Louisville coach Bobby Petrino suspended the players while the matter is investigated.
"It's definitely something we don't condone in our program and I'm very disappointed," Petrino said in a statement. "Both players know they made a mistake and their actions are not acceptable."
Louisville (7-0, 2-0 Big East) is off until Nov. 2, when it hosts No. 4 West Virginia (7-0, 2-0).
Vaughn, a sophomore transfer from Notre Dame in his first season with the Cardinals, has four receptions for 54 yards in limited action. Long does not have a reception this season.

Even when Da'Ville get nasty they just can't top Da "U"