By Bob Walsh
Prosecutors in Contra Costa County (CA) have decided on the latter, and have charged a 15-year old water polo play with felony assault for (allegedly) deliberately breaking the nose of a fellow water polo player during the course of a J V game between Acalanes High of Lafayette and Bellarmine College Prep of San Jose. The incident took place at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek.
There is video of the incident. Even though it took place largely under water the video is said to be pretty solid. The victim needed surgery. Neither of the boys had the ball at the time of the contact. They were both playing the two-meter position, which tends to be rather physical.
The case is pending in juvenile court. The alleged assailant is an A student with no history of trouble. The referees did not see the incident as neither boy had the ball, but when the video was reviewed later he was tossed out of the rest of the tournament, which consisted of one more game.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We have a sort of similar case here in Texas.
Two football players from San Antonio’s John Jay High School hit the referee during a game against Marble Falls on September 4. On one play both backs took running starts, with one of them smashing into the back of referee Robert Watts as he watched a play, and the other diving into the official after he went down. The players said they were acting on the instructions of one of their coaches.
On Monday in a Burnett County court, former John Jay assistant coach Mack Breed pled guilty to assault on the official. Breed was sentenced to 18 months of probation, fined $1,500, ordered to serve 120 hours of community service and pay restitution to Watts. Breed must also forfeit his Texas teaching certificate permanently.
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