Rutgers star Leonte Carroo charges dropped, reinstatement likely

NEW BRUNSWICK The temporary restraining order and the simple assault charge under domestic violence against Rutgers football star Leonte Carroo both were dismissed Tuesday after the parties signed a consent order in Family Court and the accuser decided not to testify in municipal court.

Carroo, who has been suspended from the program since Sept. 13, appears likely to be reinstated after missing two games while facing charges stemming from a Sept. 12 incident that took place outside the Hale Center in Piscataway after a football game.

"All decisions about a player's eligibility are left up to the coach," Rutgers senior vice president for external affairs Pete McDonough told Gannett New Jersey.

Carroo and his defense team met with Rutgers football officials at the Hale Center shortly after the charge was dismissed Tuesday night.

The Edison native must attend six hours of court-ordered anger management counseling, a standard protocol for domestic violence allegations.

Carroo stipulated that police had probable cause for charges and thus is not eligible to file a civil suit, according to his criminal attorney, Peter Gilbreth, who said the family had no such interest anyway.

“He wants to move on,” Gilbreth said. “He just wants to get back and get his life in order.”

A woman with whom Carroo previously was romantically involved and who at the time worked as a recruiting ambassador for Rutgers athletics alleged that Carroo slammed in her into the concrete, according to a complaint during the Sept. 12 altercation, according to a complaint signed by police.

She also obtained a temporary restraining order

But Tuesday began with an agreement from both parties not to contact each other, including through third parties. The woman agreed to request the simple assault charge be dropped later in the day.

Asked by New Brunswick Family Court Judge John Jorgensen as to her reason for moving to dissolve the restraining order, the woman, who told the judge she was doing so voluntarily, said, “I'm not scared. I don't think it's necessary at this point."

Without her testimony in the criminal case, prosecutor Tom Lanza cited conflicting witness statements and unclear videos and said it “does not give clear-cut evidence of assault by Mr. Carroo.”

Rutgers legal representatives were present in the Piscataway municipal courtroom, according to Gilbreth.

“We’re very pleased,” Gilbreth said. “We’ve accomplished what we wanted to accomplish."

"Now it's in (Rutgers) hands. We believe we have done everything we can do to convince the school that these matters are over. In fact, they are over. They both have been categorically dismissed. There is no pending action against Leonte Carroo. Now it's time for the school to stand up."

Lanza met extensively with Carroo's accuser prior to accepting her request for dismissal because the court "needed to be comfortable that this was not done for any reason other than the victim's request and desire." The prosecution noted that Rutgers University Police Department did not necessarily agree with the decision but held no objection.

Gilbreth said "I hope not" when asked if he thinks there will be a public perception that Carroo received special treatment.

"I think they're still taking the position that there was some smoke here," Gilbreth said. "But there was never fire. There was never proof beyond a reasonable doubt. There was no case."

Municipal court judge Dennis Fackleman pointedly addressed Carroo after accepting the dismissal, reminding the highly regarded NFL prospect that all eyes are on him and that he is blessed to be in a fortunate position. He also asked him if he respects domestic violence.

Carroo, who declined comment on his way out of court, told the judge he was going to turn "for the better."

Grounds set forth by Rutgers coach Kyle Flood for reinstatement included a resolution to the criminal matter. Rutgers will host No. 4 Michigan State at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Flood has one game remaining on his school-issued three-game suspension for impermissible contact with a faculty member, but he is running the program non non-gamedays. Interim head coach Norries Wilson declined comment when asked about Carroo on the weekly Big Ten coaches teleconference.

“We are aware of the proceedings this morning and understand that there are more proceedings this afternoon," a Rutgers football spokesperson said in a statement between the two hearings. "We will continue to gather information and do not have any comment on his status at this time.”

About 45 minutes after Rutgers lost to Washington State on Sept. 12, Carroo allegedly intervened in a confrontation between his girlfriend, Maria Vega, and the other woman. He subsequently was arrested and charged by police.

Vega and Carroo’s mother, Lavern Carroo, also were charged by RUPD as a result of the altercation. Both of them, as well as Carroo’s friend Shane Turner, who attorneys previously claimed actually was the one to touch the woman as he tried to break up a fight, accompanied Carroo to both court appearances on Tuesday.

“We were ready to proceed today,” William Fetky, Carroo’s civil attorney, said. “We have all our witnesses here. But it seemed like the most expeditious way to resolve this was the way we did it. She dropped the restraining order and they entered into mutual restraints.”

Vega filed a cross-complaint against the woman who she and Carroo were accused of assaulting.

Only Leonte Carroo’s charges have been resolved at this point. Four other people still face charges.

On the field, Rutgers (2-2) likely gets back its best player just in time for the meat of its schedule. The team will practice Wednesday morning, though there is no indication of whether the Big Ten's best wide receiver will participate.

Carroo is the Rutgers record-holder with 22 career touchdown catches, including three in the first of the two games he played this season.