Marcus' article:
If Gophers' Trevor Mbakwe completes intervention program, assault charges will be dropped
By Marcus R. Fuller
Updated: 08/12/2010 10:50:15 AM CDT
University of Minnesota junior forward Trevor Mbakwe has agreed to a pretrial intervention program that, if completed, will result in felony assault charges in Miami being dropped, according to Miami-Dade state attorney's office spokeswoman Terry Chavez.
Under the approximately six-month program, which is open to first-time offenders, Mbakwe must complete 100 hours of community service, contribute $100 to a facility for sexual abuse victims and stay away from the victim, Chavez wrote in e-mails to the Pioneer Press.
Enrollment in the program, Chavez wrote, "is NOT an admission of guilt nor is it a plea."
The Gophers suspended the St. Paul native for the 2009-10 season pending the outcome of the case. Whether the Gophers will lift Mbakwe's suspension now remains to be seen.
"After lengthy defense continuances in this case (which primarily appear to have been based around the defense's desire to depose every witness listed in the case and develop their own expert witnesses — which is their right), Mr. Mbakwe has decided that the PTI Program is the most appropriate disposition for this case," Chavez wrote.
Mbakwe and his lawyer, Gregory Samms, had claimed the woman who was allegedly attacked outside a Miami apartment on April 3, 2009, had mistakenly identified Mbakwe.
"The victim was in full agreement with the decisions made in this case," Chavez wrote. "The past year has been very difficult for her. She suffered serious physical and emotional injuries as a result of the attack, and has had to undergo reconstructive surgery to her face, and has ongoing problems with her knee which will require further treatment and possibly therapy. Additionally, she wanted closure on this case as she has had to make many sacrifices as the case was investigated and litigated in the courts."
This summer, the Gophers granted the 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward's request to explore transferring. Mbakwe still was considering playing for Minnesota, but Memphis and Georgia Tech were options. Mbakwe was pursuing NCAA waiver that would allow him to play elsewhere next season instead of having to sit out a year. Gophers coach Tubby Smith said recently that he didn't think the NCAA would grant Mbakwe a waiver, but that he would like to have Mbakwe back and wasn't upset at him for looking elsewhere.
After a number of delays in the case, Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi told the Pioneer Press last month he would consider reviewing Mbakwe's situation if the trial weren't concluded before the start of the fall semester.
While awaiting his trial, Mbakwe was arguably the top Gophers player in the Howard Pulley Pro-Am league this summer. He missed some games after suffering a double dislocation on the pinky finger of his shooting hand. But he still averaged 22 points a game for a team that finished undefeated in league play.
Memphis coach Josh Pastner saw Mbakwe play at Pulley, a secondary violation of NCAA rules that the school ended up reporting to the NCAA and Conference USA. The league is a non-certified event, meaning coaches are not allowed to recruit at it. Even after that, Pastner reportedly continued to pursue Mbakwe.
If the suspension is lifted and Mbakwe remains with the Gophers, he could join practice Aug. 21 as the team starts preparing for a foreign tour to Canada in the first week of September.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_15756892
Go Gophers!!
