Guest post by Dynasty HR Director, Justin Herzig.
Throughout the past week, there has been much discussion over the recent verdict handed down in an Ohio courthouse.
Dwayne “Deejay” Hunter, a top football prospect commonly referred to as a big-time hitter with 10.2 100 yard speed, was at the mercy of Judge Andrew Nastoff as he awaited his sanctions. After pleading guilty to shooting a BB gun from a moving vehicle, with one of the BB’s striking a 15-year old boy in the eyelid, Hunter could have received up to 8 years in prison.
ESPN referenced the details, Law Professor Blogs discussed the issue, and the Associated Press has articles spanning across the country on the ruling. Below is an excerpt from a local Cincinatti paper:
Tension in the room rose.
Then the judge announced, “You are not going to prison today.”
When at least a dozen supporters applauded and cheered, Nastoff quieted the crowd and told anyone who couldn’t control themselves to leave.
Then he began outlining all the conditions of probation: no sports, not even intramurals; a $500 fine; 500 hours of community service, which can include his helping youngsters in Special Olympics, pee-wee football or other sports; plus 180 days in the Butler County Jail. With credit for time served, he will be released just before Thanksgiving.
If any of the above conditions are broken, Hunter will be sent back to jail. The issue has brought about so much discussion because the obvious question arises: Was this really the best move on the part of Judge Nastoff?
There is no doubt Nastoff was just in making sure the sanctions were severe. This was not Hunter’s first incident with the law and Nastoff clearly thinks Hunter believes he is above the law. Nastoff, in his closing remarks, reprimanded Hunter with “Find out who you really are without this whole aura of the athletics around you, because quite frankly in some ways it’s made you a Frankenstein monster. It’s made you think you’re owed certain things.” Nastoff ruled with a punishment both to teach a lesson, while also better Hunter with his future. This should then allow Hunter, as Nastoff sees it, to “see who Dwayne Hunter the person is, not who Dwayne Hunter the star athlete is.”
However, star athlete is a term that will not commonly be used when referring to Hunter in the future. With nearly every D-1 school having displayed interest in him, his only opportunity to get a college degree may have been snatched in front of his eyes. Any chance at playing in the NFL is clearly just a thing of the past as 5 years away from football will surely ruin his chances.
This then begs the question: Was Nastoff’s sanctions actually more detrimental than helpful? There is no doubt this is a far greater opportunity for Hunter than going to prison for 6 years, however, how much greater? Was there a better option that could have been reached? I can’t help but think that some agreement could have been attained where the probation would entail strict guidelines surrounding both disciplinary and academic behavior, while still allowing Hunter the opportunity to better his life through an athletic scholarship. I hear Jim Grobe is a great mentor…maybe his sanctions should entail having to play at Wake Forest?
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