One of the two
Duke University students who have been charged with raping
a woman from a nearby school in North Carolina
will appear in court in Washington, D.C., on
Tuesday for his alleged participation in an antigay
assault in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., last
year. Collin Finnerty's court appearance was moved up
from September because the accusations in North
Carolina are enough to warrant a revocation of the
agreement that allowed the Duke lacrosse player to avoid a
trial and possible jail time last year, Newsday
reports.
Finnerty and two
friends were accused of hurling antigay epithets at
Jeffrey Bloxsom in the early morning of November 5, leading
to a fight in which Bloxsom suffered a cut lip and
bruised chin, according to the police report.
Bloxsom's lawyer said he is not gay.
Finnerty, now 19,
avoided charges by agreeing to participate in a
diversion program for people in trouble with the law for the
first time. Such programs call for participants to
perform community service, pay restitution, and stay
out of trouble. If the conditions of the diversion
program are met, the case is expunged from the participant's
record, although a record of the arrest remains, said
Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the District of
Columbia's U.S. attorney's office.
Finnerty's next
court appearance for the simple assault charge was
initially scheduled for September 25, but after his arrest
for his alleged role in the Duke rape scandal, the
D.C. superior court may decide to move forward with
the prosecution, said Phillips. If the agreement is
revoked at the hearing, a trial date will be set, and
Finnerty could face up to 180 days in jail or a
fine of $1,000 or both, according to Phillips. (The
Advocate)
