Alabama S Deionte Thompson

According to a trial request filed by the defense last Thursday in Galveston County 122nd District Court and obtained by BamaOnLine.com via the county's online database, an October trial date has been set for Alabama redshirt junior safety Deionte Thompson, one of four individuals indicted on second-degree felony assault charges stemming from a spring break brawl in March 2017.

Thompson's trial is scheduled to take place in his home state of Texas on Monday, October 8, two days after he and the rest of the Crimson Tide football team take on Arkansas in Fayetteville. Other important dates leading up to the trial include a motion to suppress (request by the defendant to have certain evidence excluded from trial, which sometimes leads to dismissal of charges) -- set for Sept. 21 -- and a pre-trial conference (establishment of ground rules for trial and another stage where resolution can occur) on Sept. 28.

Along with Rufus Joseph, Daletredricc Wolfford and Morris Joseph, Jr., a defensive lineman who spent the 2017 season at UT-San Antonio, Thompson was charged with allegedly beating Noah Frillou in Crystal Beach, Tex., on March 18, 2017 to the point of causing serious bodily injury. The quartet were then indicted by a Galveston County grand jury in October 2017.

Since the indictment proceedings, Thompson has met conditions of a $20,000 bond that included drug testing every 30 days, an obligation Thompson was required to pay for himself.

While the wheels are in motion for Thompson to have his day in court, the possibility remains for a resolution to Thompson's part in the case prior to his requested trial date. That said, Thompson's attorney, Sean Villery-Samuel, has stated that his client is set on being fully exonerated.

"Racial slurs were used and drinks were thrown at the people that were with Deionte Thompson," Villery-Samuel said in a statement to the Beaumont Enterprise on Nov. 2, 2017. "Thompson maintains his innocence and looks forward to having his day in court, so that he can clear his name."

Thompson, who was recently tabbed as a preseason first-team All-SEC selection at the league's Media Days event in Atlanta, played a large role in the Crimson Tide's College Football Playoff run in January, filling in for an injured Hootie Jones in games against Clemson and Georgia. In wins over the Tigers and Bulldogs in the 2018 CFP, he recorded seven total tackles and a pass breakup.

Thompson followed that up by taking over as an every down starter in the secondary during 2018 spring drills. For his efforts, he was given the Jerry Duncan “I Like to Practice” Award at the close of spring drills.

Alabama is set to open fall camp practices on Friday. Head coach Nick Saban will address the media after the workout.