Texas prosecutor drops domestic violence case against Beard
AUSTIN, TEXAS » A Texas prosecutor on Wednesday moved to dismiss a felony domestic violence case against former Texas basketball coach Chris Beard, in part because of the alleged victim’s wishes not to prosecute.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said that after a review of the evidence, and considering the wishes of Randi Trew, Beard’s fiancée, his office determined the charge of assault by strangulation/suffocation-family violence could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Beard was arrested Dec. 12 after Trew called 911 and told officers Beard strangled, bit and hit her during a confrontation in his home. She later said Beard acted in selfdefense and that she never wanted him prosecuted.
“Everyone knows that Coach Beard has maintained his absolute innocence since the moment he was arrested,” said Perry Minton, Beard’s attorney. “Additionally, this district attorney has a well-earned reputation for being very tough regarding domestic violence cases. The fact that Mr. Garza’s review resulted in this determination so quickly says a lot. We are very pleased.”
Texas suspended Beard without pay the day he was arrested. He was fired on Jan. 5 when Texas officials told Beard’s attorney he was “unfit” to lead the program.
A University of Texas spokesman declined comment Wednesday.
(10) TENNESSEE 68, (1) ALABAMA 59 »
Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi each scored 15 points and Tennessee (20-6, 9-5 SEC) took down newly minted No. 1 Alabama (22-4, 12-1).
Playing its first game as the top-ranked team since the 2002-03 season, the Crimson Tide led just once in the early going and committed 19 turnovers.
Unlike football, when Tennessee fans stormed their home field after beating No. 3 Alabama 52-49 in October, this sellout crowd stayed in the seats when it was over. “Rocky Top” loudly blared as the Volunteers ended a two-game skid.
Alabama became the last Power 5 men’s team to lose a conference game this season.
Women
(6) CONNECTICUT 62, CREIGHTON 60 » Caroline Ducharme scored all 10 of her points in
the fourth quarter, including the winning free throws with just under 5 seconds left, and Connecticut (23-4, 15-1 Big East) came from behind to beat Creighton (18-7, 12-5).
Ducharme, playing for the first time after missing 13 games with a concussion, was 0 for 6 from the floor before her late scoring surge helped UConn overcome an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.
(7) IOWA 91, WISCONSIN 61 »
Caitlin Clark scored 24 points and Monika Czinano had 19 as Iowa (21-5, 13-2 Big Ten) defeated Wisconsin (819, 3-12).
New Mexico St. AD gets vote of confidence
New Mexico State’s chancellor expressed his confidence in athletic director Mario Moccia on Wednesday, less than a week after the school’s most high-profile
sports program — the men’s basketball team — was shut down for what the chancellor said was a culture of bad behavior, egregious violations of the student code of conduct and other “despicable acts.”
In addition to backing Moccia, chancellor Dan Arvizu said at a news conference that he was confident the behavior that led to the cancellation of the season and firing of head coach Greg Heiar was not reflective of the athletic department or the school overall.
“Our review indicates that this culture of bad behavior is contained within the basketball program,” Arvizu said.
He was speaking less than 24 hours after firing Heiar, whose program was sunk by a pair of scandals, both of which are subject to ongoing investigations.