Harold Kasselman's Blog - Posts Tagged "jets"
Will New Jersey prosecute NFL player for aggravated assault?
ESPN has just reported today August 11. 2015 that the NFL Jets' quarterback Geno Smith will be out of action for six to ten weeks. The reason? He suffered a broken jaw after he was allegedly sucker punched by former linebacker teammate IK Enempkpali. Enempkpali allegedly sucker punched Smith in the training camp locker room.
The motive is said to have been the failure of Smith to reimburse the linebacker for a $600 air fare that Enempkpali laid out so that Smith could fly to Enempkpali's football camp in Texas. Smith did not make the flight because of a personal matter.
Enempkpali was immediately released by the Jets but the bigger question for the linebacker is whether the New Jersey authorities will seek an indictment against him for aggravated assault. That crime requires that a victim suffer "serious bodily injury". There is no question that a broken jaw qualifies as such. If convicted he could face anywhere from 5-10 years in prison and would have to serve a mandatory 85% of that sentence before he could be paroled.
Even if Geno Smith declines to sign a criminal complaint, it is most likely, in my opinion, that the Morris County prosecutor's office may very well bring the matter to a grand jury in ensuing weeks regardless of Smith's intentions. The State of New Jersey also has an interest in preventing aggravated assaults and may want to use this case to deter other violent behavior, especially when dealing with high profile individuals. It will be interesting to learn whether Smith wants to pursue charges, and whether Morris County will proceed regardless of Smith's intentions.
If you would enjoy a novel about an MLB incident that results in a homicide prosecution, please check out this link.
http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Justice-L... A Pitch For Justice
The motive is said to have been the failure of Smith to reimburse the linebacker for a $600 air fare that Enempkpali laid out so that Smith could fly to Enempkpali's football camp in Texas. Smith did not make the flight because of a personal matter.
Enempkpali was immediately released by the Jets but the bigger question for the linebacker is whether the New Jersey authorities will seek an indictment against him for aggravated assault. That crime requires that a victim suffer "serious bodily injury". There is no question that a broken jaw qualifies as such. If convicted he could face anywhere from 5-10 years in prison and would have to serve a mandatory 85% of that sentence before he could be paroled.
Even if Geno Smith declines to sign a criminal complaint, it is most likely, in my opinion, that the Morris County prosecutor's office may very well bring the matter to a grand jury in ensuing weeks regardless of Smith's intentions. The State of New Jersey also has an interest in preventing aggravated assaults and may want to use this case to deter other violent behavior, especially when dealing with high profile individuals. It will be interesting to learn whether Smith wants to pursue charges, and whether Morris County will proceed regardless of Smith's intentions.
If you would enjoy a novel about an MLB incident that results in a homicide prosecution, please check out this link.
http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Justice-L... A Pitch For Justice
