“We are not interested in a plea. It’s just not right here. It must be dropped or he must be found not guilty. If necessary, we will file civil charges after these false allegations.”
Those were the words Dalvin Cook‘s defense attorney Ricky Patel used in an interview with ESPN.com‘s Joe Schad, one in which he also claimed that his client simply walked away without striking a female victim who alleges the Florida State running back punched her in the face. There was another development in the Cook case earlier today, though, that has his defense team less than pleased.
Cook was originally scheduled to be arraigned on his misdemeanor battery charge July 30, prior to the start of summer camp. However, the Orlando Sentinel writes, “the date was pushed back [to Sept. 2] after another attorney -- Joey McCall -- was added to case, according to the Leon County Clerk of Courts.”
The new arraignment date is now scheduled to take place three days prior to FSU’s Sept. 5 opener against Texas State, which Cook’s legal representation finds highly suspect.
Attorneys for Dalvin Cook are displeased with arraignment moved from July 30 to Sept 2 w belief it is to force a plea deal before season
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) July 14, 2015
Cook remains indefinitely suspended by the football program. What impact an arraignment date so close to the opener will have on Cook’s availability for the non-conference game is not clear, although, as it’s a misdemeanor, the program could very well lift the suspension and allow the Seminoles’ leading rusher in 2014 take the field. Or, they could sit him against what will be an overmatched opponent in the Bobcats and appease those seeking some type of punishment for the back. Or they could wait and see what the result of a jury trial would be, and sideline Cook throughout the process, although that could take up to two months after the arraignment.
Of course, Cook and/or his team could reverse course and accept a plead deal and avoid a trial altogether, and FSU officials could then decide what if any punishment will be meted out. Another possibility is that the case is dismissed entirely.
Suffice to say, there are still myriad unanswered questions, enough so that it all casts doubt on Cook’s availability for at least the start of the 2015 season
