Delone Carter
/ SU Athletics file photo
SYRACUSE -- The Syracuse University football team's best player was in court Monday to face formal charges after allegedly punching a fellow student this past February.
According to Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, SU running back Delone Carter was arraigned on a misdemeanor assault charge and released on his own recognizance. Through his attorney, Carter pleaded not guilty. D.A. William Fitzpatrick says that Carter has not admitted to any crime, and that Carter has made no statements to investigators.
Carter's attorney, George Raus, says he hoped Judge Langston McKinney would dismiss the charges because of questions about identifying Carter as the person who punched SU sophomore William Hotaling on February 27. Fitzpatrick says that Hotaling was unable to identify the person who hit him. Raus said he understands whey the judge moved ahead with the misdemeanor charge, but says there is not enough evidence for conviction.
However, Fitzpatrick also says that SU linebacker Ryan Gillum has admitted he was the driver in the incident, and indicated Carter was the person who punched Hotaling. Gillum's statement was given to police last week after officers came to Syracuse football practice and took Carter and Gillum into custody for questioning.
Carter is scheduled to return to court on June 2. In the meantime, Raus says he will file an appeal to get his client back into school to finish the semester. Carter has been suspended from the university since his arrest last week, and is not allowed on campus to attend classes, live in campus housing, or practice with the football team. Carter missed both the team’s annual banquet and the spring game last weekend due to the suspension.
Carter is considered a potential prospect for the 2011 NFL Draft. He has already missed the window to declare for this year's draft, which begins on Thursday. Carter says his intent now is to return to school to complete his education and play his senior season with the SU football team.
