James LaShoto, a high school football player from Arlington Catholic High School near Boston, is facing criminal charges for assault and battery after allegedly head-butting an opponent -- 17-year-old Daniel Curtin (pictured right) -- from Abington High School in a game on Sept. 19, according to The Boston Globe.The paper reports that Curtin suffered two lacerations and a large bump on his head, and had to miss 10 days of football because of concussion concerns. LaShoto was suspended for two games by his own school.
You can see the incident during a video posted on the Globe's website, which comes from local public access television.
The incident occurs in the middle of the screen, just behind the original line of scrimmage, when LaShoto and Curtin were engaged in a block and fell to the ground. Curtin's helmet comes off in the process, which was when the alleged incident occurred.
LaShoto's lawyer had this to say:
[Ronald] Martignetti said the suspension, which was formulated in conjunction with both Arlington Catholic and Abington High School officials, was adequate. "We see this as an unfortunate incident,'' Martignetti said, and the filing of charges as "a misuse of the criminal process.'' "This was just in my mind a dirty play, not a clean one. I'm not going to defend the actions as far as the sport is concerned, but as far as the outcome, to have this boy charged with a crime - I believe it's inappropriate,'' he said, emphasizing that LaShoto had a "stellar record.''Yet Curtin's mother doesn't quite see things the same way.
"We see this as an appropriate venue. We're hoping that by doing this, this doesn't happen again to anybody.''Because the incident happened behind the play and none of the on-field officials saw it take place, there was no penalty called on the field.
...
"There is no place on the field or in high school sports for this sort of deliberate act,'' she said.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 16)
10-31-2009 @ 12:47PM
mdeand said...
This is a ridiculous frivolous lawsuit -- which is more of a problem than a late hit in a football game. Good grief.
Reply
10-31-2009 @ 1:06PM
sports mom said...
R U kidding: if that boy hit him and he died would it then be different? Or should we stop the over agression ,helmet off hit, before another son gets severly hurt for just wanting to play the game. Or maybe if it was your son sent to the hospital you would feel different. Even pros get severly fined and benched for these infractions!
10-31-2009 @ 2:04PM
hardrocknox said...
there is no crime , but a civil suit , yes
10-31-2009 @ 4:08PM
dretis said...
well it is not a law suit it is a criminal case, totally different goober, he is charged with assault
10-31-2009 @ 4:38PM
kmerker said...
This isn't a civil lawsuit...the kid is facing CRIMINAL prosecution
10-31-2009 @ 5:54PM
Putty12 said...
A helmet can be considered a deadly weapon. It was a deliberate assault.
10-31-2009 @ 7:37PM
mrklmor said...
Are you f'in kidding me! The kid pushes the helmet off the kid on the ground, rears back and totally slams his helmet into the kids face. Total banishment from the team, and criminal charges are in order. He's a total disgrace to the school. It's enablers like you that gives these kids the impression that they are beyond everybody else. IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!
10-31-2009 @ 7:39PM
endlessthread said...
Intentional....he needs to face the consequences. This is indicative of what is happening in this country.....NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
10-31-2009 @ 7:50PM
spbruni said...
your not to smart are you
10-31-2009 @ 8:03PM
bgq5983 said...
mdeand .... Wow. What lawsuit? Try READING and find the word lawsuit. The punk is being charged with a crime and he should be for that filthy cheapshot. If the officials can't clean the game up, then the law should.
10-31-2009 @ 9:17PM
Cindy Stauffer said...
For those of you who think this is not serious, my friends son was hit in this same manner and suffered a subdural hematoma, had to have surgery and months of rehab. This type of action is not sportsmanship, it is the action of someone who has some anger issues and the only thing that makies sure he will probably understand the seriousness of his actions is a criminal charge.
10-31-2009 @ 9:46PM
irenaiosbso2002 said...
Are you crazy, man? Take a good look at that clip! Even with increasing violence and catastraphic accidents in professional football, few events beat for sheer malice aforethought!
10-31-2009 @ 10:20PM
jaksmkmak said...
helmet came off and the kid was defenseless. thug maneuver and i hope the kid that did it gets jail time.
10-31-2009 @ 10:55PM
j_mumps said...
I dont know how you can say thats such a frivolous lawsuit. You must of never played football, what that dude did was criminal. There is not a football reason to headbut a player like that. Ridiculous
10-31-2009 @ 11:09PM
eroom6 said...
It isnt a lawsuit, they are criminal charges. The family of the injured player has nothing to do with it. And being a parent and having my children active in sports, I think it is extremely appropriate. After the play ended, He deliberately head-butted the other player, that is assault. The assault was not during the active play of the game.
10-31-2009 @ 11:30PM
gnomei said...
Did you not see the helmet came off that kids head..THEN he was head butted by a kid WITH a helmet? That's clearly an assault and does not belong in sports or elsewhere. This is not frivolous at all..if that kid died or was in a coma..then what would you think? That kid should be kicked off the team for crossing the line.
10-31-2009 @ 11:32PM
pppsfan said...
I didn't see the word lawsuit in this article? RU confusing lawsuit with crimal charges? They are different animals, lawsuit is a civil case and the other is a criminal case. Criminal could result in prison and a fine and civil is money awarded to the victim.
11-01-2009 @ 5:02AM
joiseyshore said...
It is not a lawsuit, it is a criminal charge. Absolutely ridiculous, what is next, arresting hockey players after a fight?
10-31-2009 @ 6:29PM
James said...
If he hit him in the nose, couldn't that be fatal? I've heard about the nose cartilage stuff breaking and hitting the brain causing death?
10-31-2009 @ 12:56PM
iglooink said...
unsportsman like conduct from #66
head butt to the face of downed player
----- kick his ass off the team ------
if you got skills use them and win
if you have to play like this then you
shouldn't be able to play
Reply