Post by ideamark on Aug 15, 2006 10:27:05 GMT -5
From the Des Moines Register...
www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060815/SPORTS0205/60815003/1003
Sparks fly as Williams trial opens
Ex-coach’s lawyers say exposure accident; accuser denies ulterior motive.
By TOM WITOSKY
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
August 15, 2006
Iowa City, Ia. — Former Iowa assistant wrestling coach Joe Williams’ indecent exposure trial began Monday with his accusers denying ulterior motives and Williams’ lawyers contending their client exposed himself by accident to the alleged victim while receiving a massage.
Williams, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and three-time NCAA champion at Iowa, is accused of indecent exposure — a serious misdemeanor — stemming from a November 2003 incident when the 31-year-old was an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes. If convicted, Williams will face up to one year in the county jail, a $1,500 fine and a requirement to be listed on the state’s sex offender registery.
The trial, which is expected to go to the jury Wednesday or Thursday, began almost immediately with a shower of claims and counter-claims between lawyers and angry witnesses.
Prosecutors claim that Williams exposed himself to the girlfriend of then-Hawkeye wrestler Jason D’Agata in an attempt to have a sexual encounter with her, and then attempted to cover it up by unexpectedly leaving the coaching staff soon after the allegations were raised to school officials.
Defense lawyers argue that Williams is the victim of accusations from a disgruntled wrestler and his girlfriend, who attempted initially to leverage the wrestler into the Hawkeye starting lineup and now are attempting to collect a large settlement in civil actions against the university and Williams.
In addition, defense lawyers attacked D’Agata for allegedly violating NCAA rules when accepting cash payments from a local tavern for acting as a bouncer — a claim that an Iowa athletic official took issue with late Monday.
Testimony and emotions became so heated that at one point Johnson County District Judge Stephen Gerard stopped defense lawyer Matt Boles during cross-examination of D’Agata just after the court reporter threw up her hands to complain about Boles and the witness talking at the same time.
Williams’ accusers are D’Agata and his girlfriend, Melissa Greazel, who claim that Williams attempted to have a sexual encounter with Greazel. The couple, who now live in Florida, are to be married in June.
As the prosecution’s opening witness, Greazel testified that D’Agata considered Williams to be his mentor and role model during his three-year career at Iowa. Greazel said she had gotten to know Williams through her boyfriend and had even been a baby sitter for Williams’ son.
But Greazel said the relationship changed late on Nov. 14, 2003, when Williams called D’Agata’s apartment ostensibly to talk to the Hawkeye wrestler about his decision not to compete in an early-season tournament.
Greazel said that, after talking with D’Agata, Williams asked her if she could meet to talk more about D’Agata’s problems on the mat. Greazel said she reluctantly agreed to meet Williams that night at D’Agata’s apartment.
She testified that Williams asked her about her sexual habits with her boyfriend.
“I told him it was none of his business and I asked him to leave at that point,” Greazel said. “I didn’t understand what was happening.”
Greazel said she locked herself in the apartment bathroom to collect her thoughts. She said she asked Williams to leave, but he refused.
Greazel said that, when she returned to the living room a few minutes later, she found Williams lying on the floor, naked except for boxer shorts around his ankles, and fondling himself.
“It was like I was in one of those bad television movies,” Greazel said. “It was disgusting and I told him to leave. I was so scared.”
Greazel said she ran to a bedroom, locked the door and demanded that Williams leave. Greazel said Williams tried to talk her into opening the door and told her a few minutes later he had masturbated while thinking of her.
Greazel and D’Agata testified they have filed civil claims amounting to more than $1million, but insisted they are seeking justice, not compensation. The Register’s policy is to not name alleged victims of sex-related crimes unless they agree to be identified or file a lawsuit.
“I promised Melissa I would fight this for as long as it takes to make sure it doesn’t happen to someone else,” D’Agata testified.
Williams did not testify on Monday. The defense expected to begin presenting its case today.
Defense lawyers have indicated, however, that they intend to acknowledge that Williams was in the apartment with Greazel that night, but are insisting that she consented to give him a back rub.
Brandon Brown, another member of Williams’ defense team, told jurors that Williams’ version is that he offended Greazel by accident when he turned over while wearing only his boxers and his genitals were exposed briefly.
SIDEBAR
Wrestler testifies bar paid him in cash
Iowa City, Ia. — A former Iowa wrestler testified Monday he accepted “money under the table” while working as a bouncer at an Iowa City tavern, but a University of Iowa athletic official said that it’s likely the athlete could receive the money without fear of violating NCAA rules.
Jason D’Agata acknowledged that he worked occasionally at the Union Bar downtown, along with other members of the Hawkeye wrestling team. He said he would receive about $20 cash each night he worked.
D’Agata made the admission in testimony in Johnson County District Court during the indecent exposure trial of former Iowa assistant wrestling coach Joe Williams. Williams is accused of exposing himself to D’Agata’s girlfriend, Melissa Greazel, on Nov. 14, 2003, while D’Agata was working at the tavern.
Matt Boles, lead attorney for Williams, accused D’Agata of violating NCAA rules when he accepted the money from the tavern. He also raised questions about whether the income was reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
Defense lawyers spent much of Monday trying to undercut the credibility of D’Agata and Greazel with jurors. They claim Williams is the victim of accusations from D’Agata, who became disgruntled because he was not in the Hawkeye starting lineup.
“Didn’t you know that receiving money for that is illegal under NCAA rules?” Boles asked. “Didn’t you sign a statement saying that you hadn’t violated any NCAA rules?”
D’Agata appeared confused and defensive. “They give two hours of stuff to sign and get through and everyone just signs it,” D’Agata said. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
Fred Mims, associate athletic director at Iowa and head of rules compliance, said late Monday that NCAA rules have permitted scholarship athletes to hold jobs during the school year for a number of years.
“The NCAA deregulated that a number of years ago and athletes can hold jobs and receive money for their work,” Mims said.
Mims said the only question would be whether D’Agata reported his job to athletic officials and whether he received compensation above the market rate paid by employers in the area. “It doesn’t seem to me that $20 is excessive,” Mims said.
Mims, who testified in Williams’ trial Monday but was not asked by defense lawyers about any NCAA rule violations, said he would have to look into whether D’Agata filed a form showing employment at the tavern.
— Tom Witosky
www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060815/SPORTS0205/60815003/1003
Sparks fly as Williams trial opens
Ex-coach’s lawyers say exposure accident; accuser denies ulterior motive.
By TOM WITOSKY
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
August 15, 2006
Iowa City, Ia. — Former Iowa assistant wrestling coach Joe Williams’ indecent exposure trial began Monday with his accusers denying ulterior motives and Williams’ lawyers contending their client exposed himself by accident to the alleged victim while receiving a massage.
Williams, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and three-time NCAA champion at Iowa, is accused of indecent exposure — a serious misdemeanor — stemming from a November 2003 incident when the 31-year-old was an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes. If convicted, Williams will face up to one year in the county jail, a $1,500 fine and a requirement to be listed on the state’s sex offender registery.
The trial, which is expected to go to the jury Wednesday or Thursday, began almost immediately with a shower of claims and counter-claims between lawyers and angry witnesses.
Prosecutors claim that Williams exposed himself to the girlfriend of then-Hawkeye wrestler Jason D’Agata in an attempt to have a sexual encounter with her, and then attempted to cover it up by unexpectedly leaving the coaching staff soon after the allegations were raised to school officials.
Defense lawyers argue that Williams is the victim of accusations from a disgruntled wrestler and his girlfriend, who attempted initially to leverage the wrestler into the Hawkeye starting lineup and now are attempting to collect a large settlement in civil actions against the university and Williams.
In addition, defense lawyers attacked D’Agata for allegedly violating NCAA rules when accepting cash payments from a local tavern for acting as a bouncer — a claim that an Iowa athletic official took issue with late Monday.
Testimony and emotions became so heated that at one point Johnson County District Judge Stephen Gerard stopped defense lawyer Matt Boles during cross-examination of D’Agata just after the court reporter threw up her hands to complain about Boles and the witness talking at the same time.
Williams’ accusers are D’Agata and his girlfriend, Melissa Greazel, who claim that Williams attempted to have a sexual encounter with Greazel. The couple, who now live in Florida, are to be married in June.
As the prosecution’s opening witness, Greazel testified that D’Agata considered Williams to be his mentor and role model during his three-year career at Iowa. Greazel said she had gotten to know Williams through her boyfriend and had even been a baby sitter for Williams’ son.
But Greazel said the relationship changed late on Nov. 14, 2003, when Williams called D’Agata’s apartment ostensibly to talk to the Hawkeye wrestler about his decision not to compete in an early-season tournament.
Greazel said that, after talking with D’Agata, Williams asked her if she could meet to talk more about D’Agata’s problems on the mat. Greazel said she reluctantly agreed to meet Williams that night at D’Agata’s apartment.
She testified that Williams asked her about her sexual habits with her boyfriend.
“I told him it was none of his business and I asked him to leave at that point,” Greazel said. “I didn’t understand what was happening.”
Greazel said she locked herself in the apartment bathroom to collect her thoughts. She said she asked Williams to leave, but he refused.
Greazel said that, when she returned to the living room a few minutes later, she found Williams lying on the floor, naked except for boxer shorts around his ankles, and fondling himself.
“It was like I was in one of those bad television movies,” Greazel said. “It was disgusting and I told him to leave. I was so scared.”
Greazel said she ran to a bedroom, locked the door and demanded that Williams leave. Greazel said Williams tried to talk her into opening the door and told her a few minutes later he had masturbated while thinking of her.
Greazel and D’Agata testified they have filed civil claims amounting to more than $1million, but insisted they are seeking justice, not compensation. The Register’s policy is to not name alleged victims of sex-related crimes unless they agree to be identified or file a lawsuit.
“I promised Melissa I would fight this for as long as it takes to make sure it doesn’t happen to someone else,” D’Agata testified.
Williams did not testify on Monday. The defense expected to begin presenting its case today.
Defense lawyers have indicated, however, that they intend to acknowledge that Williams was in the apartment with Greazel that night, but are insisting that she consented to give him a back rub.
Brandon Brown, another member of Williams’ defense team, told jurors that Williams’ version is that he offended Greazel by accident when he turned over while wearing only his boxers and his genitals were exposed briefly.
SIDEBAR
Wrestler testifies bar paid him in cash
Iowa City, Ia. — A former Iowa wrestler testified Monday he accepted “money under the table” while working as a bouncer at an Iowa City tavern, but a University of Iowa athletic official said that it’s likely the athlete could receive the money without fear of violating NCAA rules.
Jason D’Agata acknowledged that he worked occasionally at the Union Bar downtown, along with other members of the Hawkeye wrestling team. He said he would receive about $20 cash each night he worked.
D’Agata made the admission in testimony in Johnson County District Court during the indecent exposure trial of former Iowa assistant wrestling coach Joe Williams. Williams is accused of exposing himself to D’Agata’s girlfriend, Melissa Greazel, on Nov. 14, 2003, while D’Agata was working at the tavern.
Matt Boles, lead attorney for Williams, accused D’Agata of violating NCAA rules when he accepted the money from the tavern. He also raised questions about whether the income was reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
Defense lawyers spent much of Monday trying to undercut the credibility of D’Agata and Greazel with jurors. They claim Williams is the victim of accusations from D’Agata, who became disgruntled because he was not in the Hawkeye starting lineup.
“Didn’t you know that receiving money for that is illegal under NCAA rules?” Boles asked. “Didn’t you sign a statement saying that you hadn’t violated any NCAA rules?”
D’Agata appeared confused and defensive. “They give two hours of stuff to sign and get through and everyone just signs it,” D’Agata said. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
Fred Mims, associate athletic director at Iowa and head of rules compliance, said late Monday that NCAA rules have permitted scholarship athletes to hold jobs during the school year for a number of years.
“The NCAA deregulated that a number of years ago and athletes can hold jobs and receive money for their work,” Mims said.
Mims said the only question would be whether D’Agata reported his job to athletic officials and whether he received compensation above the market rate paid by employers in the area. “It doesn’t seem to me that $20 is excessive,” Mims said.
Mims, who testified in Williams’ trial Monday but was not asked by defense lawyers about any NCAA rule violations, said he would have to look into whether D’Agata filed a form showing employment at the tavern.
— Tom Witosky
