Texas reserve guard plays amid misdemeanor domestic violence case

AUSTIN, Texas – In a season when Texas fired coach Chris Beard after a felony home violence arrest, it has allowed a reserve guard to maintain taking part in whereas he awaits trial on a misdemeanor cost of assaulting an ex-girlfriend.

Second-seed Texas has superior underneath interim coach Rodney Terry to this system’s first Candy 16 since 2008, and the Longhorns play No. 3 Xavier on Friday evening in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.

Arterio Morris, a freshman who was one of many high recruits within the nation final 12 months, was initially scheduled to face trial March 29, three days earlier than Last 4 weekend. Denton County prosecutors on Tuesday have been granted a delay to an unspecified date.

Beard was fired Jan. 5, about three weeks after he was arrested on suspicion of a felony cost of choking his fiancée in a struggle throughout which she additionally instructed police he bit, and hit her. She later recanted the choking allegation and the Travis County district lawyer dismissed the case, saying prosecutors have been following her needs to not bought to trial and that the cost couldn’t be proved past an affordable doubt.

Morris is charged with Class A misdemeanor assault inflicting bodily harm to a member of the family, which in Texas consists of relationship relationships. It stems from a June 2022 confrontation within the Dallas suburb of Frisco. The cost carries penalties starting from probation and fines to as much as a 12 months in jail if convicted.

Morris’ lawyer, Justin Moore, stated the fees in opposition to Beard and the participant are completely different.

“(Beard) was charged with a felony household assault,” Moore stated. “That was way more severe as to what Arterio was alleged to need to dedicated. We preserve Arterio’s innocence.”

In accordance with police, the ex-girlfriend stated Morris grabbed her arm and pulled her off a mattress, and later pulled the entrance of her sports activities bra, inflicting an harm to her neck and shoulder space. Police reported seeing a large bruise or scratch.

Texas officers declined remark. Beard stated earlier than the season that college officers he wouldn’t establish decided the freshman may play this season.

Moore defended Texas officers’ determination to not droop Morris.

“I do consider Texas has taken this significantly. They’ve additionally allowed Arterio to take pleasure in his due course of rights,” Moore stated.

Morris has performed in all 36 video games this season, though his minutes and have been restricted on a senior-dominated group. He averages practically 12 minutes and 4.7 factors per sport. His greatest second was a soaring alley-oop dunk against Kansas within the Massive 12 Event championship sport.

Makes an attempt to succeed in Morris’ ex-girlfriend by way of relations weren’t profitable. In accordance with on-line data, prosecutors sought the trial delay to “procure witness availability.” Prosecutor Jamie Beck didn’t instantly return messages.

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