Two University of Michigan football players are accused of attacking a man at Touchdown Cafe in Ann Arbor last March, causing injuries so severe the victim required facial surgery.
Quintin Patilla, 19, was bound over on a misdemeanor aggravated assault charge at the conclusion of his preliminary hearing in Washtenaw County District Court on Wednesday, said Ann Arbor Police Detective Amy Ellinger.
His teammate, Robert Thornbladh, 20, faces a felony charge of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm, along with misdemeanor assault charges. He is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing later this month.
Both men were with a group of football players and were identified by witnesses as participating in a fight with a 25-year-old Ann Arbor man on March 9, Ellinger said. The bar was particularly crowded that night because of a charity function, and the victim and players got into a shoving match that escalated into a fight, Ellinger said.
The victim, a Washtenaw Community College student, was taken to the U-M Medical Center and needed surgery to repair his face, police said.
He was the only witness to testify at Patilla's hearing Wednesday, Ellinger said.
Court records show prosecutors initially charged Patilla with misdemeanor assault and battery for his role, but dismissed the charge late last month. Last week, prosecutors levied a felony charge of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm against Patilla, but District Judge John B. Collins dismissed that charge Wednesday because of a lack of evidence.
No new hearing date was set in the misdemeanor case. Ellis Freatman, Patilla's attorney, could not be reached by The News Wednesday.
Patilla, from Flint, remains free on personal bond.
Thornbladh is accused of stomping on the victim's head while wearing heavy boots during the fray, authorities said. His attorney, Rolland Sizemore, disputed that account Wednesday.
Sizemore said his client was involved in the fight, but videotape evidence shows Thornbladh was not standing near the victim's head.
"Robbie maintains his innocence, and the evidence is very clear that he did not commit assault with intent to commit great bodily harm," Sizemore said.
Both Thornbladh and Patilla are redshirt freshmen fullbacks with the Wolverines, and have been practicing with the team during its ongoing training camp. Thornbladh, a Pioneer High School graduate, is not on scholarship, while Patilla is a scholarship athlete from Flint Carman-Ainsworth High.
"I am aware of the incident involving Quintin Patilla and Robbie Thornbladh that occurred on March 9, 2007," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said in a statement issued to The News on Wednesday night. "I will comment when the judicial process is concluded."