A 19-year-old lineman for the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder Buffaloes is facing two assault charges for an altercation in the early morning hours of Oct. 3. According to the arrest affidavit, the man punched his victim some 30 times.
Police first went to the man’s home when someone reported hearing an argument. He and his girlfriend told them they were arguing because another man had brought her home after the couple got separated at a party that night. When officers saw no evidence that the woman had suffered any injuries, they left.
The alleged victim suffered a fractured skull, internal bleeding
However, police were summoned again later that morning after a man came into a hospital and reported an incident with the couple. He said he had found the woman walking alone and intoxicated. According to the man, when he brought the woman home, her boyfriend punched him repeatedly. He suffered bleeding in his brain and a fractured skull, according to doctors.
The CU Boulder student, who police said previously told them he hadn’t struck the other man said on their second visit that he had hit him once in response to an attempted punch. He also claimed the man had been groping his girlfriend when he helped her out of the rideshare vehicle he’d ordered.
He is facing a charge of second-degree assault causing serious bodily injury, which is a felony, as well as a third-degree assault charge, which is a misdemeanor. He was released on bond and will have his first hearing later in the month.
CU Boulder has responded to the charges
The team has said only that he’s not currently practicing with the team. A spokesperson for the university said in a statement that it “will address follow-up steps related to the matter as more details become clear. Athletics has also referred the matter to the university’s student conduct office for review.”
Criminal convictions for violent offenses can derail a college student’s education, scholarships, career aspirations and their lives. That’s why it’s crucial not to try to navigate the justice system or the university conduct process on your own.