Jeremy Hill Fight Video Released; LSU Running Back Pleads Guilty to Simple Battery (UPDATE)
ByLouisiana State University (LSU) running back Jeremy Hill pled guilty to a charge of simple battery for a bar fight earlier this week, the Associated Press reported.
District Judge Michael Erwin held his thumb and pointer finger close together and told Hill he was "this close" to ruining his football career. LSU head football coach Les Miles, who had already suspended Hill, has not said whether or not the tailback would be reinstated.
Hill entered his plea on Friday and will not have to serve jail time. The victim, 20-year-old Connor Baldridge, another LSU student, did not ask for jail time but requested Hill and Robert Bayardo, a co-defendant in the fight, pay his medical bill, avoid any contact and not comment publically on the incident in any way. Erwin agreed to the terms.
Hill had already been on probation for a 2012 guilty plea for a misdemeanor for a sexual relationship with a then 14-year-old girl from his high school. Hill received a six-month suspended sentence and two years of probation as part of the plea.
Hill was also ordered to take part in anger management counseling and perform 50 hours of community service.
According to The New Orleans Times-Picayune, a cell phone video of the incident was released Friday, which Marci Blaize previously said proved Hill was provoked and that he did not deliver the knockout punch. The video shows Hill running up to the victim from behind and throwing the first punch and then Bayardo knocking the victim to the ground.
"That video to me, is telltale," District Attorney Hilar Moore said. "It's what you do when people are not looking. In this case those two individuals didn't think anybody was looking, but a camera was."
The terms of Hill's probation are set to be reviewed in August and the young football player could face jail time if he is found to have violated the terms of his previous probation. Baldridge and his family told Moore they would leave that decision up to the judge, but could accept the new two-year probation.