ADEL, Iowa “”mdash; Former Iowa basketball player Pierre Pierce
was charged Wednesday with burglary and domestic assault and spent
several hours in jail before he was released.
Pierce was also charged with burglary, false imprisonment,
assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and criminal
mischief.
Pierce was released late Wednesday on his own recognizance.
The player’s lawyer, Alfredo Parrish, said Pierce
“intends to fight these charges with every fiber in his
soul.”
A preliminary hearing was tentatively set for Feb. 21.
Pierce’s father, Maurice, sat in the courtroom as his son
was led away by sheriff’s deputies.
Pierce, the team’s leading scorer, was kicked off the team
after police confirmed he was the subject of an investigation into
a matter at the townhouse of a former girlfriend of his.
Iowa coach Steve Alford said last week that Pierce
“betrayed the trust we placed in him when he was given a
second chance two years ago.”
Pierce was charged with third-degree sexual abuse in 2002.
He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
The case and the way it was handled by the university’s
administrators and Alford sparked controversy across the state and
prompted two faculty-led inquiries critical of the response.
Pierce, a guard, led Iowa in scoring this season with a
17.8-point average. Since his dismissal, the Hawkeyes have played
just one game, against No. 13 Michigan State, losing 75-64.
Wisconsin defeated Iowa 72-69 on Wednesday night.
Iowa athletic officials have said Pierce will remain on
scholarship through this spring and his academic status is not
affected.
Earlier, Parrish said his 21-year-old client had not yet decided
whether to stay at Iowa or transfer.
From staff and wire reports.