Spring 1998 - College Censorship
Vol. XIX, No. 2 - Page 8
Kansas State basketball players punished
© 1998 Student Press Law Center
KANSAS -- Two basketball players that were charged with assaulting a Kansas State University student newspaper sports columnist have been punished for their actions.
Manny Dies, whom the columnist wrote about, pleaded guilty to criminal trespass. He was sentenced to seven days in jail, but was put on probation, according to Assistant Riley County Attorney Brenda Jordan.
Pero Vasiljevic agreed to enter a diversion program and his records were sealed.
Dies and Vasiljevic were accused of assaulting Kansas State Collegian columnist Todd Stewart in May 1997. Stewart's Jan. 27, 1997, column described Dies as the "worst" college basketball player ever.
"Now bear in mind I am not saying K-State basketball, or NCAA I-A basketball but college basketball history," he wrote. "He is the worst."
Dies had faced one count each of assault, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass. Vasiljevic had faced one count of assault and one count of criminal trespass.
If found guilty on those charges, the players could have faced six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 for each count of criminal damage and trespass. The assault charges carried a maximum sentence of one month in jail and a maximum fine of $500.
