The preliminary hearing for six Penn State football players charged with felonies for their alleged involvement in a downtown fight will begin at 8:30 this morning in the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.
When the proceedings begin, family and friends of the defendants are looking forward to hearing a different version of the alleged burglary and assault that occurred in a third-floor Meridian II apartment, 646 E. College Ave., in the early morning hours of April 1.
"I heard that it happened. But I feel bad because they're wrongly accused. They're made to sound like horrible people," said Nikki Sargeant, the sister of Lydell Sargeant, one of the charged players.
Sargeant, Jerome Hayes, Justin King and Tyrell Sales are all charged with criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and harassment. Anthony Scirrotto faces the most serious charges: burglary -- a first-degree felony -- criminal trespass, simple assault, harassment and two counts of criminal solicitation. Chris Baker was also charged with burglary, as well as criminal trespass, simple assault, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and harassment.
"I'm hoping that there's another side to his story that not everybody knows that's going to come out and hopefully show that these guys are not of some of the characters that have been written about so far," said Mark Welch, who coached Baker at Windsor (Conn.) High School.
Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira said those convicted of first-degree felony burglary generally face a prison term of 12 to 24 months.
Sentences for persons convicted of criminal trespass, criminal solicitation, simple assault or criminal mischief typically range from probation to one to three months in prison, Madeira said.
"The DA seems to think that just because you entered an open door means you're guilty of a crime," said Ron McGlaughlin, the attorney representing Hayes and King.
Forty people, including 13 other football players, are scheduled to testify today before Centre County District Judge Carmine Prestia.
Two Penn State students who are not football players, Bernd Imle and Thomas Skalamera, were cited for their alleged involvement in a street confrontation that led to the subsequent fight.
Both are scheduled to take the stand today as well as all four residents of the Meridian apartment.
The 13 Penn State football players asked to testify are: Dan Connor, Jedediah Hill, Knowledge Timmons, Nicholas Pinchek, Deon Butler, Brennan Coakley, Tom Golarz, Michael Lucian, Bani Gbadyu, Austin Hinton, Richard Ohrnberger, Matt Hahn and Lou Eliades.
Timmons is the only player who received a subpoena to testify who was mentioned in police documents as entering the apartment. Hayes told police 15 to 20 football players were present in or around the apartment complex that night, according to court documents.
"We do have street disputes, verbal battles, pushing and shoving, that is very common in State College. The retaliation 45 minutes later, getting large groups of people forcing their way into apartments, is not something we have very often in State College," said State College Police Chief Tom King at a press conference announcing the charges last week.
Assistant District Attorney Steve Sloane is representing the commonwealth. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Baker is represented by Joseph Amendola; Sales is represented by Stacey Parks Miller; Sargeant is represented by Karen Muir. Scirrotto's representation is not known at this time.
