Thought a lot of you would be interested in this. First article is the story of the official one year after the attack, second article is after the first day of the trial.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/05007/438511.stm

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/05011/440446.stm

Just to add to this...working a 4-7 grade girls rec league championship on Saturday. Small gym, only about 5 rows of stands on one side of the gym (opposite table). 30 seconds left in the game, tie score. I'm running from trail to lead on a fast break on the stands side. Next thing I know, someone grabs me by my arm and spins me around. As I'm spun around, I see a mother on the floor grabbing my arm and then begins to verbally yell at me and pointing her finger. At the same time the girl on the fast break pulls up for 3 and makes it. As soon as the basket went in, I blew the whistle and immediately turned to the game manager who happened to be standing right there and ejected the lady. At that point she begins to yell and point in my face again about how a girl was hurt on the court. She finally leaves, we end the game. Game manager comes up to me after the game and apologizes..it was his wife. I didn't call the police at the time because she did leave the gym, and game manager/husband assured me an apology the next day. I still have not gotten it...now I'm debating and need advise...press charges? FYI, I'm in PA and we have a state law against this exact situation...felony up to 1 year in prison (assault of a sports official).

Do you know her name?

I don't personally, but my chapter assigner does (he spoke with game manager/husband on the phone about the situation).

After reading both articles, the most pathetic thing is the parent saying, he only pushed the official, and did it in defense of his son and wife. Be man enough to admit what you did, apologize, and take your punishment. Great lesson those parents are sending to their son.
In answer to your question, personally I'd contact them and say, "how about that appology?" If I got it, I'd be done, if not, I might make them aware of the law in the state. A grab is not good, but not like a punch, or body slam.

Not to defend the guy's actions, but he is facing prison time, so of course he isn't going to admit what he did. Sounds like they have plenty of witnesses and he'll pay for it one way or another. Sucks for the ref...the loser who body slammed him probably doesn't have enough money to gain anything by a civil suit.

Maybe not, but I'd do it anyway, if it were me. The publicity might help make people aware of the completely unacceptable view we have in our society of physical fighting. Everyone in the whole scrum could plead self-defense, somehow that's supposed to justify ruining someone's life. It just doesn't wash. There's no way for the ref to ever really achieve justice -- but there could be some hope that someone might read an article in the paper, and say, "Wow, how can we keep this from happening again?"

I'm also wondering about adequate security at the game. Why weren't the refs surrounded by guards the instant anyone came near the floor?

Please keep us posted tmp44. This guy should get a punishment as hard as they come. I only hope that Mr. Bell is able to get completely better and return to officiating--which he obviously loves! Get better!!! <img src="http://www.illinoishighschoolsports.com/ubb/graemlins/thumbsup.gif">

T Jones

I would file a complaint and at least make her sweat, even if nothing ever became of it.

Illinois passed a law a few months ago that if you mess with any sports official (little league umpire, summer league umpire--those are all covered), it is a FELONY!! It is very serious stuff now, which is good, should be like that everywhere.

tmp44, if you do not do anything about this woman and she gets away with this action, what is she going to do to the next referee that displeases her?

A point needs to be made! What point is the right one, I'm not sure. Here's a few options:
1. Press charges.
2. Your association needs to go back to the league director and have him ban this woman (his wife) from games for 1 year.
3. _______________________________.
(somebody help me with option #3)

If you do nothing with this lady and next time somebody else of different gender/race/hair color/whatever does the same or worse, and that official takes legal action, they will resort back to this situation and ask why she got away with it with no recourse.

Research stories on referees being assaulted and take those printouts with you to show them why you are acting on this.

TTFN

3. _______________________________.
(somebody help me with option #3)

3. If they do not ban her from the games, everyone needs to boycot this leauge

TRIAL UPDATE
 

Update on the trial. Defense began today (Wednesday).

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/05012/440800.stm

Thanks tmp44. Keep it coming...

First, the link below describes the second day of the trial.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/05013/441442.stm

Second, I wanted to provide a little insight into the incident. I live about 20 miles from the incident, but ref games for each school a couple of times a year. The schools boundaries border, and many of the students from one school know students in the other school.

Incidentally, I worked a game with Mr. Bell 3 days before the incident happened. I do not know him well, but we had worked 3 or 4 games together over the previous 3 years. He has a very mild mannered personality, and is a very good official.

I have a friend (basketball official / baseball umpire) who attended the game as a spectator. His son played for the team that started the fight on the floor. He lives very close (maybe 1 mile) to the defendant (Mr. Dukovich). My friend met the defendant 7 years ago through baseball, as their sons played on the same Little League team, and they were both coaches.

Soon after the incident last year, my friend and I were having a beer after a game. I knew he had attended the game, so I asked him. “What happened”? He said a player on his son’s team was fouled hard. The foul was called and he said it was the correct call (i.e. should not have been called intentional or flagrant). Shortly thereafter, the ball went out on the end line, his son’s teammate unprovokingly attacked Mr. Dukovich’s son. The fight was quickly broken up, and was dealt with correctly. Mr. Bell was the trail official, and had nothing to do with calling the foul, nor was he involved with breaking up the fight, but was close to where the fans were seated in the bleachers.

Mrs. Dukovich, and other fans, came on the floor. She went after Mr. Bell, probably because he was the closest official, and verbally abused Mr. Bell to the extent that game security, which were actual police officers, physically removed her from the gym. After that, Mr. Dukovich picked up Mr. Bell and slammed him.

My friend said the following: The family is not white trash. They have two sons that are attending Ivy League schools. The son that was attacked on the floor is going to attend Harvard and is an excellent baseball player. I have known Mr. Dukovich for a long time, and have never seen him get irate. But that day he lost it, what he did was wrong, and he must pay for what he did.

Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to illuminate what I know. It is sad that a high school basketball game can end up devastating two families.

Geek,

I can't agree with you more in regard to a game destroying two families but, it was not the game that did this but the actions of a few. Namely Mr. Dukovich. All I know regarding the case is what I have read in the paper. It appears that Mr. Dukovich is lying to protect his hyde. All school officials, police officers, and other witness' state that Mr. Dukovich attack this official with no provocation. You can tell the true colors of a person when they are backed into a corner and the image we get of Mr. Dukovich tells something other than your knowledge of this man.

I always go back to something that I've heard numerous times that amazes me. After most murderer's, rapists, and various violent criminals are arrested, convicted, and even sentenced, the neighbors, families, and people that knew the criminal all say "What a nice person they were".

I agree with what you are saying, and also believe that Mr. Dukovich and his lawyer are lying to avoid or minimize the appropriate punishment. For instance, I believe there is no way you can grab a person around the waste with two hands, pick them over your head, and slam them, without knowing the they are wearing a striped shirt, which is the claim of the defense.

As the official who relayed the story to me said, "he was wrong and must pay for what he did". I will personally be very angry if Mr. Dukovich does not receive a jail sentence in the 6-24 month range.

I also feel the Mrs. Dukovich instigated the situation, and got off light. I do feel bad for the son involved, he had nothing to do with the actions of his father, but will be stigmatized by those actions.

Update
 

Verdict comes in at during the morning today (Thursday). I have a contact at the courthouse who is an attorney and should be able to find out relatively quickly. BTW, thanks Geek for posting the link earlier...I'm having major computer problems and appreciate the pick up! Also, are you in Westmoreland Chapter (Mon-Valley here)?

Geek and tmp44- thanks for the updates and information, guys. These things impact all of us.

Parent acquitted in 3 of 4 charges in referee assault
 

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/05013/441714.stm

VERDICT--UNBELIEVEABLE
 

Dukovich was acquitted on 3 of the 4 charges, including assault on a sports official. He was convicted of simple assault and will face no jail time when sentenced in mid-Feb. Here's the article on the verdict.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/05013/441714.stm

I thought that states were putting these laws in to protect us. Just not a good day for officials IMO.

<i>But Dukovich said he didn't realize Bell was a referee despite his striped shirt and repeated use of his whistle, and he said he pushed him rather than body slammed him.</i>

BULL$HIT!!!!

<i>Zottola said today that the behavior of sports fans was getting out of hand but he acquitted Dukovich of the one charge -- assault on a sports official -- that tied the case to a sporting event.</i>

If this isn't assault on a sports official.... what the f**ck is????

If this is not an attack on sports official I don't know what is! The fact that he has lead an exemplary life up to this point doesn't mean squat. He did what he did and those actions should carry a punishment. I guess everyone who committs a felony, that has lead an exemplary life up to that point should be aquitted. :( Pure Garbage.

Guess now we know why Dokovich requested a non-jury trial...he knew there was no way a jury would acquit him, but figured he could find that one idiot judge who would say that fans are out of control, but this guy's a pretty good guy and so I won't find him guilty of assaulting an official...sad day for officials - yep, but even sadder for our judiciary...

One count of simple assault.

Well, at least Mr. Bell can hopefully get compensated for his medical bills, pain and lost time at work when he sues in civil court.

If this jerk can afford to send his kids to Ivy league schools...he should be able to fork over some compensation for Mr. Bell. (looks like he was able to afford a pretty good attorney)

BTW, how much would any of you take to be in Mr. Bell's situation...$10,000...$20,000...$500,000?
Not me...I want my health and my hobbies!

I hope someone takes that a** into a dark alley and beats the sh*t out of him. I hope the civil suit gets Mr. Bell everything that entire family owns. Someone touches me, I'm getting the police and pressing charges no matter who they are. The courts need to start making examples of these idiots.

Wow
 

This pisses me off!! Wow!

Thx for the posts...

Sad! No wonder we're having trouble finding and keeping officials.

I know one thing, this verdict today doesn't give me any hope about the sitch I described that happened to me in my original post. One of the reasons why I haven't pressed charges yet is because I wanted to see how the trial ended. Just doesn't give me much of a motivation to do it now, I guess.

Big Dude
 

A picture of the defendant is on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's main page, http://www.postgazette.com . I don't think I would want to get body slammed by him, that's for sure.

He's a good guy says who?
So far as they know he's a good guy, but it seems that this Judge has questionable standards to determine who's a good gut and who's not. I still feel sorry for his kids, I'm sure they're proud of their Dad and now they could suffer from financial loss. I feel for Bell's kids to if he has any.
I smell a rat! Something's not right with this. Why have the officials law if you don't consider a body slam as assault on an official?
Hopefully Bell wins in a civil suit but like RookieDude said, I'd rather have my health.

TMP44, you've still gotta go on with your situation. Don't let this get you down rather let it motivate you. Keep us informed.



[Edited by ChrisSportsFan on Jan 13th, 2005 at 01:31 PM]

Todd,

Hey, I don't think you should give up hope, really. It is quite sad how the verdict ended, but as we know in many high-profile cases, the civil suit is larger yet less publicized (ie. koby briant). However, in your sitch, an arm grab really isn't too bad. I've had a few of those from fans, I just simply 'evil eye' them and either ask them 'why they are touching me,' or 'to please let go of me,' or 'please don't touch me.' I definately feel that you could make a some noise on yours though espcially since you're in the same area as the above case. Someone earlier has mentioned taking clippings and copies (and even copies of this forum) to do some of your 'selling of the call.'

good luck.

tmp44. this would give me more motivation. if you (read: we as officials) let verdicts like this discourage us from filing legitimate charges (legitimate is key, cuz I disdain BS and frivolous judicial issues) then we will not gain any ground and in fact we may lose ground. I say follow through with whatever action is appropriate despite the outcoume of this case. If we make enough noise.... someone, eventually, has to hear it.

Weigh the details and if you would have followed through with charges had this case never existed, you should still follow through. If not, let it go and move on. My opinion.

Hmmmm, it makes you think. Based on the criteria used to decide this case, a basically good guy could then body slam a judge that he disagreed with and be acquitted of 3/4 of the charges. Wouldn't need to serve any jail time either. I'll bet you the dollar in my pocket that if somebody posed that question to the judge in this case, the judge would not agree.

Let me see....

You're convicted of simple assault.

The guy you assaulted is a sports official.

But you're acquitted of assaulting a sports official.

And our system of jurisprudence works how again?

"I didn't know the guy in the striped shirt with the whistle was a sports official. I thought he was a sports bar waitress."

Tell you what, someone comes onto a court at me, two things are going to happen: One, I'm decking the person, and two, I'm hanging 'em up.

Todd,

You need to do this. Even if she gets of, you are still sending a message that we officials are not going to stand for this!

Todd,

Yes!! We (not trying to speak for everyone) stand behind you on this matter, because it is a very very serious matter/problem.

This reminds me of that a$$ clown that attacked the Royals first base coach and got off with a slap on the wrist. I hope the people in this area vote out this judge during the next election.

I should note that if someone the size of the 300 pound parent comes at me on the court, I'm going to heed my father's advice that discretion is the better part of valor and hightail it out of there if it all possible. Another reason to stay fit!

Man Gets Probation in Botched Castration
PITTSBURGH - A man who botched the castration of a transgendered woman will spend the next three years on probation. "I have no intention of doing this again to animals or humans," Douglas Lenhart, 49, told Allegheny County Judge John Zottola on Monday. "I'm completely out of this. Completely done."


Zottola sentenced Lenhart to jail time he had already served and will let him serve his probation in Kansas City, Kan., where he now lives.

<HR>
Prisoner Rape in the News

Mike Wereschagin, Guard Convicted in Earlier Sex Case, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, February 4, 2004.

An Allegheny County Jail guard awaiting trial for trading cigarettes for sex with female inmates was fired in 1995 after an indecent assault conviction but later reinstated.

The fact that Joseph Addison, 54, of Hazelwood, regained his county jail job despite serving three years of probation stunned his first victim.

"I don't understand how he could get his job back," said the woman, now 22, of East Liberty, in an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The newspaper does not identify victims of sexual assault.

Judge John Zottola convicted Addison of indecent assault and harassment for groping her, when she was only 13, in October 1994 at his home. Zottola sentenced Addison to three years' probation, which is within the standard range of state sentencing guidelines.

Whew. I'm thanking my lucky stars I'm not within Judge Zottola's jurisdiction.

I hope that the school has taken step to bar this guy from attending any games,

Lets see, I have my stripped shirt, black pants, shine on my new black shoes, whistle....Damn, forgot my night stick for the fans!

Er, um, I'm guessing this apparently near-sighted fellow had 20/20 vision all night long with respect to the calls being made on the floor. Must have lost that great eyesight when he actually got on the floor.

So let me see, if he wasn't planning to body-slam the official, who else would be on a basketball floor in the middle of a game - players? Was he intending to body-slam a player? Or maybe a coach? Yup, all that makes a hell of lot more sense to me...

Sheesh!

I made similar comments to Allegheny county and to the news reporters.

You can too.

see
http://www.officialforum.com/thread/17595

it is finnaly timeto participate
 

I have monitored this website for quite awhile and finally registered earlier in the year this is my first comment.

I want to say that i find this a very disterbing subject and the outcome horrific.

but my real comments are to be addressed to those who have participated in this discussion and the other thread 'WAYS TO COMMENT", i contacted the courthouse to express my dismay and got a response with the phone numbers for the Judge and presiding judge. I will not post them but I would suggest that you do contact the courthouse and express your opinion get the numbers and call and express your opinion.

While we work we are a minority, as agroup we are a force.

I would also sugest that letters and comments be directed to Barry Mano at refferee magazine and the NASO.

Hey, I like the way you think. Dang, you posted your comments before mine - do I owe you a royalty or something? :eek:

Anyway, I went ahead and sent my own polemic to both. Thanks for the link. I'm gonna send it along to all the coaches and officials I know so they too can reply.

Thanks again!

The best outcome is at least there is a conviction. My guess is that in that (unless wierd laws apply there) it will be used against this guy in the civil suit. He wont get out of that one.

I sent comments in about the judges decision as well.

We NEED to support our profession and send a complaint. The reasons the judge acquitted, and Dukovich saying he did not know Bell was an official after watching him work the game for almost 3 qtrs is one of the stupidest things I have EVER heard in my life!!!

Horrible thing for a fan to do, and a judge gives him NO jail time and acquits him on assault on a sports official, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. If body slamming someone does not fit those charges, what does!!!! Pathetic!!!

Voice your opinion at http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/feedback/

Referee's attacker gets a pass
Acquitted on 3 of 4 charges, he's spared jail


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05014/442169.stm

In the light of what has happened, what is the school admin, organisers, local referee association, etc. going to do or prepared to do to back and support Mr.Bell?

Sorry I haven't been on to update for a while, major computer problems (again). Nick, officials are still mostly in shock and outrage about what can be done, although I know that the response to Judge Zattola has been nationwide from officials. Many newspapers in the area have also written editorials condemning the judge's verdict.

For those of you that have given me advise in my sitch, thank you. It helps to know that I have the support of so many people. I have decided to pursue my case, and will be speaking with the district attorney's office tomorrow. It will be up to them whether to follow through on my complaint. Will keep you posted.

Todd, from all of us, thank you. Even if it never goes anywhere, it might make the other party think a little bit next time before getting involved.

I saw something I had never seen during a varsity girls basketball game. One of the players reached inside her jersey and pulled out lip gloss or some such thing. Maybe the time has come where we ref games with a small can of mace stuck in our pants. I'll bet there are guys who do that.

The sad thing would be that if an official did this and someone attacked him and the official used it. The official would probably get charged and found guilty of excessive force or something like that.

The other day I worked with a partner I had not met yet and during our small talk, I found out he is a Federal Prosecuter. TMP, my guess is that there is someone in your organization who is "connected". Maybe they can help you.

One of my partners last week was a homicide investigator. I've known him for several years and told him that I hoped we did not need his "expertise" that night.