Three adults, two juveniles charged in Alton High basketball brawl

Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Three adults, two juveniles charged in Alton High basketball brawl 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

EDWARDSVILLE — Three adults and two juveniles were charged Thursday with aggravated battery in connection with a brawl that occurred in the waning seconds of a basketball game at Alton High School on Nov. 23.

Ahmad R. Sanders, 18, was charged with felony aggravated battery for allegedly injuring a referee in the scuffle. He is also charged with three counts of misdemeanor resisting arrest for allegedly failing to comply with commands given by three different police officers.

Sanders is a member of the Alton High School boys’ basketball team. Some other players were disciplined within school rules.

Also charged with aggravated battery are Cri’Shonna R. Hickman, 18; and Tiffany K. Brown, 37. According to the charges, Brown allegedly caused bodily harm to a student, striking the student with her fist about his body. Her bail was set at $20,000. Hickman is a member of the girls’ basketball team.

In addition, two juveniles, including one from Riverview Gardens, were charged with aggravated battery.

Officials said that, during the melee, a Riverview Gardens player ran into the stands but was attacked by a juvenile and Hickman, who repeatedly stomped on the young man. Brown is visible on a video repeatedly hitting an unknown student with her fists.

States’s Attorney Tom Gibbons said that, through the course of the investigation, it was determined that Sanders and a juvenile were involved in a fight on the court, which spilled into the stands. During the melee, an intervening referee was pushed to the ground.

“While it may be understandable for tempers to flare in the middle of a sporting event, it is not acceptable for individuals to go so far over the line. In such cases, there must be accountability,” Gibbons said.

He said the charges are the result of an exhaustive review of all available evidence in the case, including video, and apply only to those individuals named Thursday.

Sanders’ bond was set at $40,000 by Associate Judge Neil Schroeder, and his bail on a previous perjury charge has been revoked. Sanders may eventually be lodged in Madison County Jail to await trial.

If convicted, the maximum penalty for a Class 3 felony is three to seven years in prison. Sanders is also facing a felony charge of perjury for allegedly lying on the witness stand at a murder trial of his brother, Aryion Sanders.

Hickman and Brown could also be sentenced to between two and five years in prison.

As of now, the two juveniles’ cases will remain in juvenile court; therefore, no further information on those cases will be released at this time.

Reach reporter Sanford Schmidt at 618-208-6449.