It was set out in the War Room that he plead guilty to the reduced charge. The article in the KNS implied, but did not state that this was pre-trial diversion. There is a difference. If he plead guilty he is on probation and can get the conviction expunged if he does what is required during the period of probation (6 months). If it is diversion, the charges hang out there with no resolution for 6 months and are then dismissed if all goes as required. In terms of what the University will do and the Title IX suit I think this makes a huge difference. If he pleads guilty to assault, even if he is later allowed to clear the record and is allowed to remain in school then I think the Plaintiff's lawyers in the Title IX suit will howl at the moon about preferential treatment even if he does not rejoin the football team. Remember, it is the University, not the AD per se, that is the defendant here. On the other hand if he took diversion then there is no basis for putting him out of school unless the victim changes her story again. In either case surely the UT lawyers will point out this is the typical outcome in these type cases whether they involve students or non-students, regardless of their athletic connections.
