C.J. Niusulu, a freshman defensive lineman on the UCLA football
team, was sentenced to 120 days on Monday in a San Bernadino County
jail in connection to misdemeanor battery charges according to
reports from The Desert Dispatch.
Barstow Superior Court Judge James Dorr issued the sentence in
accord with the probation officer Cecil Smith’s reports on
the case.
“(This is) unacceptable behavior,” Dorr said in a
courtroom statement. “You injured another person, and you
need to suffer the consequences.”
Niusulu, 18, pled guilty to a reduced misdemeanor battery charge
in mid-December in connection to a July 17 incident at a drive-in
theater in Barstow, Calif. He punched his underaged victim once,
breaking his jaw and injuring his shoulder and upper lip.
According to Smith’s report, the incident occurred after
employees at the Skyline Drive-in would not permit Niusulu and his
friends to enter the theater for free.
After a brief argument, Niusulu was about to leave when the
victim allegedly called him a derogatory name.
“(The victim) called me the “˜P word,’ a big
Samoan, and talked about my family,” Niusulu said in the
Smith report. “I walked towards him and punched him real
quick … I was not aware of any damage, what I had done to
him.”
According to Dorr, Niusulu has taken responsibility for his
actions and even expressed remorse.
Niusulu was originally charged with felony battery, and former
UCLA head coach Bob Toledo would have kicked him off the team had
he been convicted. Toledo, who was fired in December, was set to
give Niusulu a one-game suspension for the misdemeanor suspension.
The policy of new head coach Karl Dorrell, who could not be reached
for comment, is unknown.
Prosecutors ultimately reduced the charge in compliance with the
wishes of the victim’s family and because Niusulu had no
prior record.
Fourteen letters from Barstow High School ““
Niusulu’s alma mater ““ and UCLA officials attesting to
his impeccable character and his academic and athletic feats also
may have contributed to the decision for leniency.
Dorr said Niusulu will serve 48-hour terms in county jail every
weekend from Feb. 21 to March 15, when he will complete his final
exams.
Once the quarter ends, Niusulu is expected to surrender to the
court and will remain in jail until his 120-day sentence is
complete. He must also enroll in a 52-week anger management program
within the next 30 days and may have to pay restitution to the
victim in the near future.
A reserve defensive tackle on the football team last year,
Niusulu played in five games, notching three tackles and two sacks.
His season was cut short by appendicitis.
Niusulu’s football status is unknown at this point, but he
will likely miss all of Spring practice while in jail.
“C.J. will take it like a man, but he’ll be
back,” teammate Justin London said. “It’s a shame
that he still has to pay. I think he’s paid enough.
Both Niusulu and the athletic department declined to
comment.