Illini basketball player pleads not guilty to domestic battery
He’s the second basketball player to be arrested in the past month
Junior Illini basketball player Jaylon Tate was arrested Saturday morning on a domestic battery charge that occurred earlier that day.
He was taken to Champaign County Jail after the arrest, in an incident where police said a woman’s mouth was bleeding, in order to make his Sunday morning bond.
Athletic director Josh Whitman and basketball had coach John Groce released a statement in order to address Tate’s behavior.
“Tate has been indefinitely suspended from all team activities pending legal proceedings and an investigation into the allegations,” the statement read.
“It is important that we take time to fully understand the events of last evening before passing judgment. We condemn domestic violence in all its forms and will move swiftly and decisively if these allegations are substantiated.”
Tate has pleased not guilty to the charge. Defense attorney Tom Bruno disputed that the woman was Tate’s girlfriend and said “I don’t believe he was present when it happened.” Bruno said Tate “had nothing to do with it.” The attorney said he plans to give investigators and prosecutors evidence he believes will clear Tate but would not elaborate.
After sophomore forward Leron Black’s aggravated assault arrest outside Canopy Club on Feb. 20, this is the second basketball player to be arrested in the past month.