From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A former Cudahy youth football coach accused of assaulting and threatening to kill a 12-year-old boy during practice was sentenced today to 24 days in jail.
Michael Crawley, 40, also was placed on eight months probation and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to charges of battery and disorderly conduct.
Crawley's attorney didn't think the sentence was fair.
"Frankly, I though the sentence was excessive," said John Birdsall, Crawley's attorney, said after today's sentencing.
Birdsall said Crawley did not bodyslam the boy, but did push him out of the way, which injured the youth. He said there were several discrepancies in how the story was reported.
"I think this whole thing has been completely overblown," he said.
At the time of the incident, Lynn Brellenthin, mother of victim Ryan Mullarney, said she was afraid of Crawley.
According to the police report:
Ms. [redacted] was displeased that Crawley was not in custody and she expressed fear of him. She said that up until this incident she and Crawley were friends. She requested information regarding a restraining order....
Brellenthin claimed to be so afraid that she said she'd prefer that Crawley be jailed.
I didn't believe that she really feared Crawley. If she did, why would she have agreed to do all those interviews and trot her son out before the cameras? Wasn't she afraid that might set Crawley off and he'd respond violently?
Actually, I think Brellenthin and Mullarney enjoyed the media attention and the drama.
In any event, Crawley will be spending time in jail for completely flipping out. Given that he assaulted a child, I think that's appropriate.
Coaching middle school kids is not like coaching in the pros or even on the college level. The Bobby Knight method of coaching doesn't fly in a youth league.
At least there aren't chairs on a football field.
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