Duke Lacrosse Player Convicted In Unrelated Assault Case

[IndianaGreen]

Duke Lacrosse Player Convicted In Unrelated Assault Case

POSTED: 3:44 pm EDT July 11, 2006
UPDATED: 5:31 pm EDT July 11, 2006

WASHINGTON -- One of the three Duke University lacrosse players charged with raping an exotic dancer during a team party in North Carolina was convicted Tuesday in an unrelated assault last year on a bar patron in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood.

Collin Finnerty, 19, of Garden City, N.Y., was sentenced to six months of probation by Superior Court Judge John Bayly at the conclusion of the two-day bench trial.

Bayly also required Finnerty to submit to drug and alcohol treatment if probation officers deem it necessary. He also ordered Finnerty to stay out of Georgetown during his probation, and to stay out of any establishment where alcohol is served unless accompanied by his parents.

The maximum jail term on the misdemeanor conviction was six months in jail. Prosecutors did not ask the judge to impose jail time.

Prosecutors said Finnerty was the instigator in an unprovoked attack on two Georgetown bar patrons in the early morning hours of Nov. 5.

http://www.nbc17.com/news/9500033/detail.html

[LisaM]

1. Well, whaddya know?

An unprovoked attack. Hmmm.

[ugarte]

2. This guy should thank his lucky stars he didn't kill somebody

in one of his drunken rages. Although the Duke rape case looks shaky, it's obvious he's got some anger and alcohol issues.

[laureloak]

8. Sounds like a typical fist fight. Unfortunate, but typical.

[PassingFair]

11. Well, boys will be boys....

:sarcasm:

[superconnected]

3. ...

"Among those who testified for Finnerty was former Duke lacrosse captain William Gerrish, who was with Finnerty that night. Gerrish said on the stand that he saw Finnerty get punched in the head, even though he had previously told police that he never saw Finnerty get hit.

Bayly said he found major inconsistencies in Gerrish's account of the fight."

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Hmm.

Duke Lacrosse players lying to police and covering up a crime...

Who'd a thunk it.

[goclark]

4. Well what do you know ~ surprise, surprise

another innocent guy from Duke.

[ugarte]

6. He may well be innocent of the charge of rape

One incident is not relevant to the other, any more so than the fact that the accuser also has a criminal record and made prior allegations of multiple rape on another occasion.

[laureloak]

7. Why is it so important to you that these boys be guilty?

I'd really like a straight answer.

[ugarte]

9. It seems to be just the fact they go to Duke

There are rapes every day, including the rape of an 11 year-old by college football players in Fresno the other day, but just the fact that the lacrosse case involves an elite school like Duke seems to excite some people around here for whatever reason.

[goclark]

10. Why is it so important to you that they be not guilty?

" I would like a straight answer."

First of all, I simply said I was surprised.

[Binka]

12. Boys?

A five year old is a boy.