Friday, March 29, 2024

Pretrial for defensive end postponed

March 28, 2002

The pretrial hearing Wednesday for Spartan defensive end Clifford Dukes was adjourned.

Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Joyce Draganchuck said the reason for the adjournment was so that Dukes’ attorney, Brian Jeffries of ASMSU’s legal services, could have access to all the information.

“He just had to sort through all of the police report,” Draganchuck said. “They’re rather thick and he needed time to review them. They’re not just five pages - they’re a volume.”

Jeffries could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Dukes was issued charges on four counts of assault and battery and two counts of aggravated assault. The charges stem from an October fight at Delta Sigma Phi, 1218 E. Grand River Ave.

On Tuesday, the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office said the sophomore defensive end will be the only one charged.

Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said there are three possibilities as to what could come next. The first would be another trial date be set, the second would be to set an arraignment date, which could lessen the charges and the third option is to make a deal.

Because Dukes is 20 years old, one possible deal would be to enter into a program that protects the privacy of offenders under the age of 21.

The Holmes Youthful Trainee Act allows young people to enter a guilty plea, but avoid a criminal conviction by completing terms set by the judge, which could include probation or community service.

Spartan center DeMarco Monroe entered the program after pleading guilty to assault on Feb. 26. The misdemeanor was the result of an August fight outside an East Lansing pizzeria.

Draganchuck said she doesn’t know when it will be rescheduled.

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