Crime & Safety

WATCH: Fight Involving Rutgers Football Player Captured On Cell Phone Video

An attorney for a suspended Rutgers football player says video and witness testimony will prove his client is not guilty of simple assault.


An attorney for a suspended Rutgers football player says cell phone video of a fight outside the Hale Center on the Piscataway campus, along with testimony from witnesses, will prove his client is not guilty of simple assault.

Leonte Carroo, 21, of Edison, was in Family Court on Wednesday, because the 20-year-old woman he is accused of assaulting is seeking a final restraining order, but that hearing was adjourned until Oct. 6 because the young woman wanted to return with an attorney.

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But William M. Fetky, the New Brunswick-based attorney who is representing Carroo in the Family Court matter, said cell phone video shows that the 20-year-old woman attacked Carroo’s current girlfriend, Maria Vega of Fort Lee. And, he said, he came to court Wednesday with a host of witnesses who would have refuted the accuser’s account of what occurred that night.

Vega was one of three people charged Tuesday with simple assault and disorderly conduct in connection with the case. Carroo’s mother and Vega’s father were also charged.

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Peter Gilbreth, the Morristown-based attorney who represents Carroo in the municipal court case, said he had initially planned to limit his comments to what was said in open court. But, he and Fetky have now decided it is time to let the public know about Carroo’s defense.

The 20-year-old woman has already been issued a temporary restraining order against his client and is now seeking a final order, and based on her statements, Carroo’s mother, Vega and Vega’s father have been charged, said Gilbreth.

“It’s now gotten totally out of hand on (the 20-year-old’s) side,” he said.

Fetky said Carroo’s mother and girlfriend were outside of the center, waiting for him after a football game, when a group of Rutgers football hostesses attacked Vega. He said he does not believe the 20-year-old woman was involved in that assault, which was broken up by Rutgers police.

But a short time later, Carroo and his friend, Shane Turner, a student at Middlesex County College, came outside and saw another fight, said Fetky.

Young women were again attacking Vega, he said. This time, the 20-year-old woman was involved and can be seen swinging her purse at Carroo’ s girlfriend, Fetky said, noting that all of the Rutgers hostesses were wearing red shirts and black pants, while Vega wore white pants.

“All he did, was sweep in and pull Maria from the crowd and usher her away,’’ Fetky said of Carroo.

He said Vega was treated that night at a hospital for her injuries.

One of Carroo’s friends, Shane Turner was prepared to testify that he grabbed that 20-year-old woman’s arm and pushed her, and that’s when she fell, Fetky said. Turner already told police that is what occurred, the attorney said.

But the 20-year-old woman told both NJ.com and The Record that she was assaulted by Carroo.

“I know Shane,’’ the woman told The Record. “I know the difference in size. Shane could not have picked me up and thrown me like he did.”

Carroo has been suspended indefinitely from the football team. He has entered a not guilty plea to the simple assault charge and is scheduled to appear in Piscataway Municipal Court on Oct. 1.

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