Sports
Former Ohio University Football Player Scheduled to Start Trial
By: Todd Ward
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A former Ohio University football player is scheduled to start his trial on felonious assault charges on Tuesday.
Initial court documents say 19-year-old Christopher Tarrant, a former walk-on with the Bobcats, is accused of punching 22-year-old Evan Clark on June 1 and causing a detached retina to Clark's eye.
Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn says the incident was unprovoked and alleges alcohol was involved.
Court documents say last week a motion was filed by Tarrant's attorney Eric Hedrick to dismiss the testimony by three doctors involved in the case because the prosecution failed to submit the proper paperwork for claiming to be experts..
Athens County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Ward dismissed the claim, allowing the doctors to testify.
Blackburn says after the incident Tarrant has been kicked off the football team and expelled from Ohio University.
If convicted, Tarrant could face up to eight years in prison.