University of Arkansas basketball player Jacorey Williams, who is serving an indefinite suspension from the program because of his involvement in the alleged passing of counterfeit currency, could find himself in more hot water.
Williams, a senior from Birmingham, Ala., was involved in two separate, but possibly related incidents earlier this month, according to Fayetteville police reports. Williams' then-girlfriend said in one of the reports that Williams shoved her to the ground, and in the other report a security guard said Williams punched him in the face.
No charges had been filed in either incident as of the close of the Fayetteville city prosecutor's office at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The initial police report said Williams pushed Essence Singleton, who was described in the report as Williams' girlfriend, to the ground July 5 at West End bar on Dickson Street, causing cuts and scrapes to Singleton.
In the other police report, Bryan Jones, head of security at Lit Lounge on Watson Street, and two other bouncers at the club said Williams punched Jones in the face at the club in the early morning hours of July 18. Jones said in the report that he believed the punch was in retaliation for the July 5 incident that involved Singleton, during which Jones had stepped between Singleton and Williams and pushed Williams away.
No arrest has been made in either incident, Fayetteville city prosecutor Casey Jones said Wednesday.
"The police department is allowed to make an arrest for a misdemeanor that occurs in their presence," Jones said. "In cases where a misdemeanor occurs outside their presence, it's incumbent upon the victim to come in and file a formal complaint."
Bryan Jones indicated in a statement to police July 19 that he wanted to "move forward with speaking with the prosecutor the next chance he had," according to the police report.
Neither Bryan Jones nor Singleton could be reached for comment Wednesday.
University of Arkansas athletic department officials have not responded to a request for comment by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on the latest reports.
Williams is one of three Razorback basketball players being investigated on suspicion of forgery as part of a two-month investigation by local authorities and the Secret Service into counterfeit currency. Williams, guard Anton Beard and transfer forward Dustin Thomas were put on indefinite suspension July 22.
-- Tom Murphy
UA golfer pleads guilty to voyeurism charge
A University of Arkansas golfer accused of taking pictures of an unconscious woman's genitals pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of voyeurism Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court.
Taylor Moore, 21, was sentenced to one year probation, fined $1,000 and was ordered to have no contact with the victim in the case. He will not have to register as a sex offender.
Moore initially was charged with video voyeurism, a felony. Prosecutors said they reduced the charge as part of a plea bargain because of problems with the case, including whether the woman was in a place where she had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Moore and Nicolas Echavarria, 20, were arrested just before the NCAA Yale Regional in New Haven, Conn., in mid-May. Both were suspended indefinitely from the golf team and didn't participate in the tournament. Arkansas didn't advance from the regional.
Charges against Echavarria were dropped in June.
The woman told police on April 11 she consumed multiple alcoholic drinks at various bars on Dickson Street in Fayetteville and then ran into Moore and Echavarria, whom she described in the report as friends.
She said she went to two other places with the pair, then because she was too intoxicated to drive, she and another friend accepted a ride from Moore and Echavarria. According to the women, Moore and Echavarria dropped off her friend and then took her to Moore's house.
The woman told police she passed out and then awoke in the car several times. She said she was under the impression she would spend the night at Moore's house, then be given a ride home in the morning.
The woman said she kept falling asleep, then waking up on the couch and recalled being carried into Moore's bedroom. The woman said while in the bedroom, she recalled seeing a flash of light and suspected Moore took photos of her.
-- Ron Wood, NWA Democrat-Gazette
GOLF
Roachell defends AWGA championship
Summar Roachell of Conway shot a 2-under 71 and nearly went two rounds without a bogey, wrapping up a 6-under 213 and an 11-shot victory to win her second consecutive Arkansas Women's Golf Association championship Wednesday at Hot Springs Village's Balboa Golf Course.
UALR sophomore Peyton Weaver of Bryant finished second at 5-over 224. She faced an eight-stroke deficit at the start of the day, and Roachell didn't allow her any room to come back despite a 1-over 74.
Roachell, a University of Arkansas junior, had a 35-hole streak without a bogey come to an end on the 18th hole. She missed the green in regulation and was unable to get up-and-down for par.
Lisa Varney of Maumelle was third at 16-over 235.
Brooke Matthews of Rogers defeated Casey Ott of Conway on the third playoff hole to win the junior championship.
-- Sean Saunders, The Sentinel-Record
Sports on 07/30/2015