jimotis4heisman
Banned
id say this might a big one
http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2005/02/08/local.20050208-sbt-LOCL-A1-ND_trustee_accused.sto
http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2005/02/08/local.20050208-sbt-LOCL-A1-ND_trustee_accused.sto
[font=Arial,Helvetica]ND trustee accused of hurting wife[/font]
Duerson resigns following domestic battery charge.
By MARTI GOODLAD HELINE and MARGARET FOSMOE
Tribune Staff Writers
<TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=6 width=110 align=right bgColor=#ffffcc border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[font=Arial,Helvetica]<CENTER>Duerson</CENTER>[/font]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
SOUTH BEND -- A former University of Notre Dame football player resigned from the school's board of trustees Monday after being charged with domestic battery on his wife.
A summons to appear in St. Joseph Superior Court was issued for David R. Duerson late Monday afternoon after misdemeanor charges were filed by the St. Joseph County prosecutor's office, Prosecutor Michael Dvorak said.
The charges -- two counts of battery and two counts of domestic violence battery -- stem from an incident that occurred early Thursday while Duerson and his wife, Alicia, were staying at the Morris Inn on the Notre Dame campus.
Duerson, of Highland Park, Ill., apparently was in town for board of trustee activities scheduled Thursday and Friday.
Duerson released the following statement Monday night through Mitch Rosen, who described himself as a family spokesman:
"As with all people, we, too, are less than perfect human beings. This is a family misunderstanding which occurred in private and has already been resolved in private. It has brought us even closer together. Our attorneys are working with local officials to address their concerns. We ask that you respect our privacy, particular Alicia and our children, and ask for your agreement with us in prayer. I offer my sincere apologies."
Employees of the Morris Inn contacted Notre Dame Security Police about 1:45 a.m. Thursday after receiving reports of a disturbance in the room Duerson was sharing with his wife, according to court documents with the criminal charges.
A night auditor for the Morris Inn reported to police he had received calls from the second floor about yelling and fighting coming from the Duersons' room.
When the employee approached the room, he saw a man, later identified as Duerson, "open the door and physically toss a woman, later identified as Alicia Duerson, out of the room and (she) hit the wall on the other side of the hallway," according to a probable cause affidavit signed by Lt. Pat Cottrell, a detective with Notre Dame Security Police.
The employee reported he gave his coat to Alicia Duerson and secured her in a room behind the front desk until officers arrived.
Alicia Duerson suffered cuts on her head and complained of dizziness and pain and was treated and released from a local hospital, the affidavit states.
<TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=6 width=240 align=right bgColor=#ffffcc border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TR><TD>[font=Arial,Helvetica]Notre Dame officials released two statements Monday regarding Dave Duerson, but declined further comment.
"It is regrettable but proper that Dave Duerson has resigned as a member of the University's Board of Trustees. We are appreciative of his past service, but the circumstances in which he finds himself clearly make this the proper course of action. Our prayers are with Mrs. Duerson, Dave and the entire family."
Rev. Edward A. Malloy
University president
"In view of the serious matter now confronting Dave Duerson, he has voluntarily resigned from the University's Board of Trustees. We have accepted his resignation. Without prejudging any legal outcome, we believe this is the right decision, consistent with expectations for membership on the Board. Our thoughts are with everyone in the Duerson family during this difficult time."
Patrick McCartan
Chairman of the board of trustees
[/font]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Cottrell stated Alicia Duerson told officers her husband had become upset with her in the hotel room and began striking her on the head and body before she was thrown out into the hall.
Dvorak declined to release further details of the incident.
David Duerson is actually accused of only two incidents -- one alleging he choked or struck his wife in the room and one alleging he pushed her against a wall -- and could only be convicted of two charges.
Dvorak said the case was filed under two different theories of prosecution. The battery charges do not require the prosecutor to prove the victim is the defendant's spouse.
All charges are Class A misdemeanors that carry a sentence of up to one year in jail and a fine up to $5,000.
Duerson played football at Notre Dame from 1979-82, graduating in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in economics. He later earned a master's degree at Harvard University.
Duerson is president and chief executive officer of Duerson Foods, based in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1983 and played with that team until 1989. He started as a defensive back for the 1985 Bears Super Bowl championship team. He later played for the New York Giants and the Phoenix Cardinals.
Duerson's son, Tregg Duerson, is a Notre Dame freshman and reserve defensive back on the current Irish team.
David Duerson was elected to the board of trustees in May 2001.
He made headlines in December when, in a Chicago radio interview, he blasted the firing of Notre Dame head football coach Tyrone Willingham. He criticized the way the matter was handled and the search for a new coach, and said race played a role.
"I don't think race was a major determinant in terms of Ty (his firing), but would it have occurred if it had been another individual -- a white individual? I can't say it would have. But the one thing we know for certain, this is absolutely the first time this occurred."
He was referring to the fact that Willingham's ouster after three seasons was the first time Notre Dame broke its precedent of giving the head football coach the life of his first contract to establish himself.
Staff writer Marti Goodlad Heline:
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