Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Judge removes house arrest for suspended FAU wide receiver Woods.
WEST PALM BEACH — A Palm Beach County judge removed suspended Florida Atlantic receiver Kalib Woods’ house arrest on Monday morning, and Kalib’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss two felony charges, claiming “Stand Your Ground” immunity for a justifiable use of force.
Woods, suspended indefinitely by the FAU football team following his June arrest, is charged with two counts of felony battery stemming from a January fight in a Boca Raton banquet hall. According to a Palm Beach County police report, both victims (FAU students Adrian Muckle and Stephan Reese) were hospitalized after the alleged altercation.
Monday morning’s court hearing was Woods’ first since June 14, one day after his arrest. He is scheduled for a status check Oct. 16 at 8:30 a.m. Woods has pleaded not guilty.
Woods’ attorney Michael Gottlieb told Judge Jeffrey Colbath that Woods had a “very minor criminal history before this,” and argued that Woods did not present a flight risk. Gottlieb said that FAU’s football team holds Woods’ passport. Plus, Woods is not allowed on FAU’s campus without a police escort.
Assistant state attorney Peter Magnani argued that the injuries sustained in the incident — Muckle’s internal bleeding and Reese’s broken jaw, according to the police report — were grounds to maintain Woods’ house arrest.
“It’s a bar fight,” Gottlieb told the judge. “There are several individuals who punch and kick these victims. I think the state’s going to have a very difficult job attributing the injuries solely to my client. We do believe somebody else started the fight.”
Gottlieb also told the judge that Woods was scheduled for a 10 a.m. hearing at FAU on Monday morning, “where in all likelihood, we’re going to admit that he was at fault in the incident with the violence.”
“They’re recommending, as I understand it, perhaps a one-year suspension,” Gottlieb said. “So I don’t expect him, at this point, to be back on school campus any time soon.”
Colbath granted Gottlieb and Woods’ request that house arrest be lifted.
Gottlieb also contends that Woods did not initiate the fight, according to a motion to dismiss filed last Wednesday. The motion cited surveillance video from The Venue and said Woods is pushed from behind by an unknown person on the dance floor and then acts “in fear for his safety.”
“Kalib Woods, without provocation is pushed from behind by one of the men causing Kalib’s body to jolt forward and his head to rock back,” the motion said. “On video, the push can be seen as the man places his hand on the left shoulder of Mr. Woods.”
The motion said the push placed Woods in front of Muckle, “whereupon a brawl takes place.” It also said Woods is pushed a second time into Muckle and Reese.
“In fear for his safety Kalib Woods defends himself,” the motion said. “He does not act to encourage anyone else to participate in the fight. Woods can be seen turning around and engaging only those who appear to be a threat to him.”
According to the police report, police reviewed the surveillance footage on Feb. 8 and saw “Kalib strike Adrian and Stephan several times with a closed fist. Stephan and Adrian were kicked several times while laying defenseless on the ground. Adrian and Stephan didn’t attempt to punch or kick Kalib during the entire incident.”
The police also said an unknown thin, black male with tattoos approached Muckle and Reese.
The motion also claims the alleged altercation was “a staged or orchestrated action against Woods,” citing three social media posts from Muckle and Reese. Muckle and Reese previously announced on Facebook they would be making a film about the incident and recovery.