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Assault case against CU football player proceeds
Geer's attorney says witness accounts changed
The attorney for a University of Colorado football player charged with assault and harassment argued Wednesday that the two people injured in the fight had a bigger role in the melee than they told police.
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But that didn't stop a Boulder County judge from concluding that there's enough evidence for the case against tight end Riar Geer to proceed.
Prosecutors say Geer, 21, punched the two other CU students in a University Hill melee in March, breaking one man's jaw and knocking out the second man's front tooth.
During a preliminary hearing Wednesday -- a proceeding in which the judge considers evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution -- Judge John Stavely said prosecutors were able to meet their burden.
Boulder police officer Kara Jurczenia testified that just a few minutes after they sus-tained the injuries, both Alexander Williams and Hunter Wright identified Geer as the man who approached them and started the fight.
But attorney Louis Rubino said witnesses' accounts suggested that they changed their stories after the fact to focus the blame for the fight onto one person -- his client.
"I think what the evidence clearly shows is that this was a brawl," he said. "It's unfortunate, but things happen on the Hill. You don't become a victim because you became injured in a brawl in which you participated."
Rubino pointed out inconsistencies in the statements witnesses gave to police following the fight, which took place outside a house party the night of March 14 at 18th Street and Cascade Avenue. For example, Williams initially identified Geer as the one who had assaulted his friend but not him, Rubino said.
And other witnesses said other people involved in the fight had tackled Geer and one of his friends -- details the two victims didn't share with police that night, he said.
Rubino argued that Williams probably threw the first punch in the altercation.
When she took the stand, Jurczenia said Williams was knocked to the ground and blacked out momentarily after being punched and getting his jaw broken. She also said Williams did land one punch against Geer.
Rubino said that testimony -- along with witness accounts of Williams pushing Geer and yelling at him to leave -- suggests that Williams was actively involved in the fight. He argued that Williams probably wasn't able to punch Geer after being knocked to the ground.
Jurczenia said she thought Williams could have landed his punch after being hit himself, "but before he fell."
She added, "Later, he had gotten up and was talking to me, so it's possible."
Rubino called that conclusion "nonsensical."
"The more likely scenario is that Williams punched first and was hit back," he said.
Geer was in court, dressed in a dark suit. His parents also watched the proceedings. He's set to appear in court to enter a plea June 13.
Contact Camera Staff Writer Ryan Morgan at 303-473-1333 or morganr@dailycamera.com.
Posted by trubuff on May 22, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Boulder police officer Kara Jurczenia said Williams was knocked to the ground and blacked out momentarily after being punched and getting his jaw broken."
"Jurczenia said she thought Williams could have landed his punch after being hit himself, "but before he fell.""
Are you freakin' kidding me?! She's trying to say that Geer knocked this guy Williams out and broke his jaw but Williams managed to hit Geer AFTER he got hit. And the only evidence she has is that Williams told her so. Any questions about the Boulder Police having it in for CU football players is answered right there. This is ridiculous!
Posted by flabuff227 on May 22, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i completely agree. for some reason these kids have targets on their backs when it comes to the boulder police and media. that statement alone should help the defense.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 22, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i think officer kara might have been hiitin the beerbongs as well that night
Posted by trubuff on May 22, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
After reading this article its no wonder the police "couldn't find" the guys who tazered Kotoa's friend.
Posted by archalon on May 22, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Because everyone with a broken jaw typically gets up and swings at the attacker. C'mon - police sound stupid trying to explain this.
The other guy either hit first or he didnt. If he did, Geer should be cleared as defending himself.
Posted by nwbuff32 on May 23, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GREAT NEWS!!!!!
Shaun Mohler has passed all six courses this spring and is on track to make it to Boulder in July. He only has to take 2 more classes in June and then he is done.
I'd say after successfully completing 6, 2 would be a walk in the park.
Congrats Shaun, can't wait to see you on the field. LB U just got a huge boost.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 23, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
that is good news, thanx fot yhe update we are gonna need him. more good news might be that judge stavely used 2 play for cu.
Posted by extrapoint on May 24, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I dont feel there will be any problem at linebacker. Burton looked awesome during the spring game. Beatty has put on about 20 lbs and is supposed to be doing well in practice. Add Sipili, Smart and now Mohler to the mix and "voila." Even if we go to a 3-4 we will have Major, who will be just too good to redshirt.
Posted by extrapoint on May 24, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dang
how did I forget Doug Rippy?
not skeered about linebackers
Posted by pdxbuff on May 25, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Look, these players have been told to stay out of situations like this. There is just no tolerance any more at CU for this, we all agree.
It is totally irrelevant who started it, If you are a scholarship athlete here on a free ride, stay out of this kind of stuff. If you are too stupid to understand this, and they have been told over and over, than you are too stupid to be a Buff. Min 1 yr suspension.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 25, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
of course they were told to stay out of situations like this, but situations arise. gimme a break. these r kids that make mistakes, just like everybody else. scholarship or not. im not saying that suspensions aren't warranted, but 1 year minimum, get real! Dont blame everybody else because u were locked in your basement your whole life.
Posted by MadCityBuff on May 26, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A 21 year old is NOT a kid, flabuff.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 27, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe not legally. in my mind college students are still kids. at this age they are all more prone to trouble and mistakes. what do 21 year olds do in college? they party! your not normal if u dont
Posted by baBUFF on May 27, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The fact that college kids party isn't a valid excuse for bad behavior. Plenty of kids manage to party their brains out without running afoul of the law. And I'm sorry, but 21 is an adult. The guy can drive a car, vote, buy a beer, and sign a contract - so he's an adult.
That said, being an adult doesn't mean you don't make mistakes - plenty of really great people make mistakes from time to time. Geer will have to pay for his, which is unfortunate for the football team (and us fans) but probably the right thing to do.
But a 1 yr. suspension is rediculous. Let's call this what is was - a fight. Boulder PD's explanation is so absurd, I wonder if she believes it herself. It wasn't a robbery, or an attack, it was a fight. Don't forget Geer ended up with a black eye too, has anyone else been charged with "assault"?
Posted by mntbyker on May 27, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
does anybody know about deandre byrd and where he went?
Posted by bufffan8 on May 27, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like Geer was tackled (probably from behind) was punched and defended himself. Exactly how do you avoid that situation. By staying home and playing chess every weekend? These kids are in college and they should be able to experience off-season house parties just like the rest of the student body. pdx - we know you would have sprinted home and hid in a closet if this happened to you but most men protect themselves? Fight or flight - pdx chooses flight. Football players by nature are most likely going to fight back.
Between the cop and the so called victim's stories changing this whole thing is a joke.
Posted by choderlos1741 on May 28, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you are attacked you have the right to use reasonable force to defend yourself. Despite the ridiculous lies of his attackers and the biased actions of the police, I'm sure that a jury will see that Riar Geer punched somebody after several guys jumped him.
Considering that the Boulder Police Department has been a complete joke for at least 20 years, what can we do about it? It goes way beyond prejudice against football players, the BPD is flat incompetent.
Posted by baBUFF on May 28, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't count on a Boulder jury siding with a football player - won't happen. His best bet might be to plea down.
When in doubt I'm guessing a jury would assume the bigger guy was the aggressor and Geer is a big dude. I can see the prosecution arguing that the other guy would be crazy to pick a fight with a huge football player - so it must be the player's fault.
This whole thing smells like a hot summer day in Lincoln.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 28, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If his folks have money i would take it to trial, judging from the ridiculous statements made by the officer.Im guessing his suspension would be lifted if he was acquitted. but who knows with the way joa handles these matters.
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