Centre County Court officials set a May 7 trial date Monday for former Penn State wide receiver Maurice Humphrey, who left the university after allegedly assaulting two students last semester.
Penn State University Police arrested Humphrey on Nov. 23 after a male student reported that Humphrey assaulted him earlier that morning. A female student later reported Humphrey also assaulted her during the same incident.
The altercation allegedly occurred in the woman's residence in Nittany Apartments, Building 45. University police charged Humphrey with aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief. He was also removed immediately from university housing.
Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said Humphrey is no longer a student at the university but could not comment on when his termination was official. Office of Judicial Affairs director Joseph Puzycki did not return phone calls for comment on whether Humphrey was expelled by Judicial Affairs or left the university on his own.
Kendig added that Judicial Affairs operates independently of criminal proceedings. The outcome of Humphrey's trial would not affect university disciplinary action.
Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar said Humphrey would be tried on the aggravated and simple assault charges. He added that Humphrey's prominence as an athlete did not factor into the jury selection process. "It was very routine, like the other 20-some juries we selected that day," he said.
Defense Attorney Tony DeBoef did not return a telephone call for comment yesterday.
According to court documents, Penn State track and field team members Christopher Lolagne and Jennifer Maline were in Maline's apartment when Humphrey entered the room and hit Maline with a closed fist.
He then attempted to remove Lolagne from the apartment by dragging him toward the door. Humphrey punched him in the head and kicked him while he was on the ground before Lolagne exited the building, the documents said.
Humphrey then allegedly struck Maline again, threw a cellular phone against a wall and caused other damage to the room before he exited the building. Police later found him nearby on campus. Lolagne was hospitalized with facial injuries sustained in the incident. Maline was treated and released with no major injuries, police said at the time of the incident.
Penn State Sports Information Director Jeff Nelson declined to comment yesterday about the case.
Collegian staff writer Dustin Dopirak contributed to this report.
