Trial date set for teenager charged in Pioneer-Huron football brawl
The teenager charged with four counts of assault in the post-game brawl between the Pioneer and Huron High School football teams last fall is set to stand trial in April after his lawyer and prosecutors could not come to a resolution.
Bashir Garain
Courtesy of WSCO
Bashir Garain, 18, Ann Arbor, was in court for a pretrial hearing Tuesday afternoon. The hearing came two weeks after his attorney, Walter White, said evidence received from prosecutors could result in the case being resolved.
However, White said Tuesday a resolution was not reached, but discussions would continue as the case moves toward an April 1 trial date.
“This matter has not been resolved,” White said.
Garain is charged with two felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery. His next court hearing is a final pretrial at 1:30 p.m. March 19 in front of Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Donald Shelton.
Police said Garain attacked two players with a crutch during the Oct. 12 brawl between the two rivals. White has previously said Garain is innocent. Police released a video showing a man they say is Garain swinging the crutch toward players during the fight.
Garain was formally charged in the case in November and has been free on a personal recognizance bond since he was arraigned.
The incident started when the coaches from both teams converged near midfield after the game at Huron High School. Vince Wortmann, a Pioneer assistant, shoved Huron head coach Cory Gildersleeve because Wortmann thought Gildersleeve was physically threatening Pioneer head coach Paul Test. The Pioneer head coach alleges Gildersleeve was pushing him.
All three men are no longer coaches — Wortmann was fired for his actions, and Gildersleeve and Test both resigned after the season. Prosecutors declined to pursue charges against Wortmann because he believed he was acting in defense of Test when he pushed Gildersleeve.
Two other Pioneer players have been charged in the case. However, they are both juveniles and the details of their cases are not being released to the public.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
concerned
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 12:05 a.m.
The case for this young man is way over the top. Over charging and not allowing the whole situation to remain in the schools is wrong. I understand there was an extensive investigation done by A2 Schools and disciplinary actions were taken. I have one question for the COACHES of the three players charged. This brawl would not have happened except for the actions of some of the coaches on both teams. As a coach of the three players that were charged with a crime, have any of you thought about showing up in court to show support for your players? Or is it a matter that the coaches are off the hook, so what else matters. THINK about it.
Due
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 4:33 p.m.
so the adults aren't held responsible but the kid is, that's real fair. As in most fights it's the retaliation that gets caught not the initial contact. Ask any hockey player. From what I understand the kid has no criminal record is a good student and athlete and this is the only way to handle the incident, seems pretty over the top to me. Was anyone injured?
Chris
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 9:33 p.m.
I have this same problem. The adults receive no legal punishment but this kid gets dragged into court. I say hogwash. Let him go.
sassy
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 1:12 p.m.
Can you just let it rest, move on to something more like news. Thank you
concerned
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 12:07 a.m.
These are our kids, this is NEWS.
jcj
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.
1) I suspect if it were your kid that was being hit with the crutch you would think this is news. 2) I suspect if it was your kid swinging the crutch you would think this is news. 3) I suspect most Pioneer alum would think this is news. 4) I suspect most tax paying citizens of Ann Arbor would think this is news.
An Arborigine
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 2:55 a.m.
My observation is that this unfortunate football staffer has taken the brunt of the punishment that may/should have been rendered on the coached of this community's young people. If there is evidence of attack, that's one thing, but really???
stevek
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 10:23 p.m.
Here is a resolution. Mr Garain can grow up, be a man, admit that he was wrong and pay the consequences. He was on crutches so he wasn't playing the game yet he had the idea to swing a dangerous weapon at someone with the intention of hurting someone. It doesn't matter if there were other people fighting. No one forced him to get involved. Be a man, grow up, admit you were wrong, and pay the penalty.
genetracy
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 12:29 a.m.
It is easier to scream racism and compare the trial to a lynching.
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 10:02 p.m.
I saw a player on the video viciously swing a crutch at a player on the ground. That person, whomever he was, needs to be held accountable.
PineyWoodsGuy
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 9:32 p.m.
A crippled teenboy assaulting a fully-suited up teenboy football player (pads, helmet) with an aluminum crutch? Lots of readers watched the video on-line. Where's the beef? If a person is innocent, they should not plead guilty. Prediction: the teenboy will be found Not Guilty. Again, where's the beef?
jcj
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 2:05 p.m.
Piney You must have watched the wrong video.
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 5:22 a.m.
Well, PineyWoodsGuy, Garain is legally entitled to a trial. It's also up to him to take a plea deal and waive his right to a trial. I don't think you can claim the prosecutor's office is wasting tax dollars when they're working with White and Garain on a plea deal and the defense simply hasn't accepted one. That seems unfair to the prosecutor's office.
PineyWoodsGuy
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 4:51 a.m.
Oops! I should have posted "allegedly." Innocent unless proven guilty! The video is Not convincing. What is the Pros gonna do? Present some teenboys from the other team to say he did it? What an Utterly Foolish and Un-Necessary prosecution! Yer tax dollars at work folks!
a2citizen
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 9:47 p.m.
Crippled? But at least you admit he assaulted the teen boy.