Shortly before he was scheduled to go to trial, former All-America wrestler Mark McKnight pleaded guilty to a summary offense of disorderly conduct in connection with a May 2007 fight.
In October, McKnight was charged with disorderly conduct, simple assault and harassment after police said he struck another student outside Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, 351 E. Fairmont Ave., in May, according to court documents.
As part of McKnight's plea deal, which he entered June 30, he will face no jail time or probation. However, he will have to pay $3,169 in restitution and $236 in court fees, according to court documents.
McKnight was to face a jury trial this Friday on all three original charges. McKnight's charges of simple assault and harassment -- both misdemeanors -- were dismissed as part of his plea deal.
Assistant District Attorney Yvette Wilson, who prosecuted the case, was not available for comment as of press time yesterday, but Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira confirmed McKnight had entered into a plea deal.
The State College Police Department said McKnight struck the fra
ternity's president, Sean Forster (senior-kinesiology), in the jaw after he was asked to leave Lambda Chi Alpha at about 1 a.m. on May 5, 2007. Forster told police the blow pushed back two of his teeth, slicing his lip, and caused him to fall backward and hit his head on a wall.
As McKnight and three other men fled the scene after McKnight struck Forster, they yelled they were on the Penn State wrestling team, according to court documents. Forster and another witness later identified McKnight after looking up wrestlers' photos on Penn State's official athletics Web sit, GoPSUSports.com.
Forster did not return calls for comment by press time yesterday.
When questioned by police, McKnight first admitted to being at the fraternity and striking a man in the face while on top of him, court documents state. However, police said McKnight later denied striking Forster when he was informed of Forster's injuries.
At McKnight's preliminary hearing in February, his lawyer, Philip Masorti, said he planned to take the case to trial because McKnight denied hitting Forster and did not want to pay $6,000 worth of Forster's medical bills, according to Collegian archives.
Masorti did not return calls for comment by press time yesterday.
Masorti also argued Forster failed to properly identify McKnight, having initially been unable to estimate his assailant's height, weight or which hand he used to strike him, according to Collegian archives.
McKnight, at 125 pounds, was a starter for the Penn State wrestling team this past year, his senior year. In his final season, he captured an All-America title and secured a fourth-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships in March.
