Michigan football player who hit rival pleads guilty to misdemeanor misdemeanor

A Michigan football player charged with striking an opponent with his helmet during a skirmish in the stadium’s tunnel last season pleaded guilty to misconduct on Thursday, his attorney said.

In a deal with prosecutors, the player, Khary Crump, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of assault and one count of disorderly conduct in connection with the Oct. 29 fight, which took place after the University of Michigan defeated its rival. Michigan State, 29-7, according to his attorney, Mike Nichols.

The felony assault charge that Mr. Crump originally faced was dropped by prosecutors and his criminal record will be expunged once he enters a program under the Holmes Juvenile Trainee Actwhich gives people between the ages of 18 and 25 a clean record if they successfully complete probation, Mr. Nichols said.

Crump is scheduled to be sentenced on January 31. The assault and battery charge carry a maximum sentence of 93 days in prison. Mr Nichols said he did not expect his client to be sentenced to prison.

According to The associated pressJudge Cedric Simpson of the Washtenaw County District Court seemed pleased with the deal, and joked about the role his alma mater, the University of Maryland, had played.

“This was handled in a great way, but it could only have been done by a Maryland Terrapin,” he said, referring to the nickname for the university’s track and field teams.

The plea deal with the Washtenaw County prosecutor’s office, which did not immediately respond Thursday to an email requesting comment, came about two months after a video showed Mr. Crump and six other players getting into a scuffle with a Michigan player, Ja’Den McBurrows.

The video showed Mr. Crump waving his helmet at Mr. McBurrows in the Michigan Stadium tunnel, and it appeared that Mr. Crump’s teammates also hit the defensive back as the University of Michigan fight song blared in the background and staffers and officers swarmed in.

Six other Michigan State players were charged with misconduct in connection with the episode.

Mr. Crump’s actions sparked outrage from football fans. Some, Mr. Nichols said, messaged Mr. Crump directly on social media and crudely voiced negative views of him. Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh said on a news conference in October that what happened in the tunnel was “blatant”.

“It’s sickening to watch the videos,” he said, adding that accountability was needed.

The University of Michigan did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment Thursday night.

Mr. Crump was suspended from the team by his head coach, Mel Tucker. He will also miss the first eight games of next season, according to Mr Nichols, who said his client was remorseful for what he did.

“It was very, very hard, and I’m just super proud of him for pulling through it,” Mr Nichols said.

In December, Mr Crump wrote a letter to Mr McBurrows to apologize for his actions, Mr Nichols said.

He added that in the aftermath of what happened in the tunnel that night, Mr. Crump had continued to work on his classwork and fitness.

“He’s still enrolled, still on a scholarship and technically still on the team, even though he’s suspended,” said Mr. Nichols. He added that “when the suspension is finally over, he can do what he loves to do.”