Youth coach faces lesser charge

STOCKTON -- An assistant youth football coach who police sayrushed onto the field and tackled a boy on the opposing team wascharged with misdemeanor child abuse Thursday.

Cory Petero initially was arrested on a felony charge, butprosecutors decided to pursue a misdemeanor instead because the youthwasn't seriously injured and Petero has no prior criminal record,Deputy District Attorney Xapuri Villapudua said.

The injuries to the child were very minor, said Villapudua, notingthat the boy suffered sore ribs and a sore hand from the tackle thatsparked a stand-clearing brawl on Saturday.

San Joaquin Superior Court Judge Clark Sueyres was less forgivingwhen Petero and his defense lawyer arrived 6 minutes late for thearraignment. By that time, the judge already had issued a warrantrevoking the $50,000 bail Petero posted over the weekend.

Witnesses at Saturday's game between the Riveroak Redskins and theStockton Bears said Petero attacked the 13-year-old player for makinga late hit on Petero's son.

Villapudua said Petero would not have to return to jail, but mighthave to pay a fine. The arraignment would likely be rescheduled forFriday, she said. If convicted, Petero faces a maximum sentence of ayear in jail and four years' probation.

I think the judge was uncomfortable with all the cameras in thecourtroom and got rid of the case, said Petero's lawyer, PrecilianoMartinez, referring to the extensive media coverage the incident hasgenerated.

Martinez said he and his client were late for court because he waswaiting for someone to bring him his appointment calendar and did notrealize Judge Sueyres had called the case. Petero did not have to goback to jail as a result of the warrant, Martinez said.

Officials with the Delta Youth Football League voted Wednesdaynight to ban Petero from coaching in the league or attending itsgames.

He he was waiting for someone to bring him his appointmentcalendar and did not realize Judge Sueyres had called the case.Petero did not have to go back to jail as a result of the warrant,Martinez said.

Officials with the Delta Youth Football League voted Wednesdaynight to ban Petero from coaching in the league or attending itsgames.

Youth coach faces lesser charge

STOCKTON -- An assistant youth football coach who police sayrushed onto the field and tackled a boy on the opposing team wascharged with misdemeanor child abuse Thursday.

Cory Petero initially was arrested on a felony charge, butprosecutors decided to pursue a misdemeanor instead because the youthwasn't seriously injured and Petero has no prior criminal record,Deputy District Attorney Xapuri Villapudua said.

The injuries to the child were very minor, said Villapudua, notingthat the boy suffered sore ribs and a sore hand from the tackle thatsparked a stand-clearing brawl on Saturday.

San Joaquin Superior Court Judge Clark Sueyres was less forgivingwhen Petero and his defense lawyer arrived 6 minutes late for thearraignment. By that time, the judge already had issued a warrantrevoking the $50,000 bail Petero posted over the weekend.

Witnesses at Saturday's game between the Riveroak Redskins and theStockton Bears said Petero attacked the 13-year-old player for makinga late hit on Petero's son.

Villapudua said Petero would not have to return to jail, but mighthave to pay a fine. The arraignment would likely be rescheduled forFriday, she said. If convicted, Petero faces a maximum sentence of ayear in jail and four years' probation.

I think the judge was uncomfortable with all the cameras in thecourtroom and got rid of the case, said Petero's lawyer, PrecilianoMartinez, referring to the extensive media coverage the incident hasgenerated.

Martinez said he and his client were late for court because he waswaiting for someone to bring him his appointment calendar and did notrealize Judge Sueyres had called the case. Petero did not have to goback to jail as a result of the warrant, Martinez said.

Officials with the Delta Youth Football League voted Wednesdaynight to ban Petero from coaching in the league or attending itsgames.

He he was waiting for someone to bring him his appointmentcalendar and did not realize Judge Sueyres had called the case.Petero did not have to go back to jail as a result of the warrant,Martinez said.

Officials with the Delta Youth Football League voted Wednesdaynight to ban Petero from coaching in the league or attending itsgames.

Youth coach faces lesser charge

STOCKTON -- An assistant youth football coach who police sayrushed onto the field and tackled a boy on the opposing team wascharged with misdemeanor child abuse Thursday.

Cory Petero initially was arrested on a felony charge, butprosecutors decided to pursue a misdemeanor instead because the youthwasn't seriously injured and Petero has no prior criminal record,Deputy District Attorney Xapuri Villapudua said.

The injuries to the child were very minor, said Villapudua, notingthat the boy suffered sore ribs and a sore hand from the tackle thatsparked a stand-clearing brawl on Saturday.

San Joaquin Superior Court Judge Clark Sueyres was less forgivingwhen Petero and his defense lawyer arrived 6 minutes late for thearraignment. By that time, the judge already had issued a warrantrevoking the $50,000 bail Petero posted over the weekend.

Witnesses at Saturday's game between the Riveroak Redskins and theStockton Bears said Petero attacked the 13-year-old player for makinga late hit on Petero's son.

Villapudua said Petero would not have to return to jail, but mighthave to pay a fine. The arraignment would likely be rescheduled forFriday, she said. If convicted, Petero faces a maximum sentence of ayear in jail and four years' probation.

I think the judge was uncomfortable with all the cameras in thecourtroom and got rid of the case, said Petero's lawyer, PrecilianoMartinez, referring to the extensive media coverage the incident hasgenerated.

Martinez said he and his client were late for court because he waswaiting for someone to bring him his appointment calendar and did notrealize Judge Sueyres had called the case. Petero did not have to goback to jail as a result of the warrant, Martinez said.

Officials with the Delta Youth Football League voted Wednesdaynight to ban Petero from coaching in the league or attending itsgames.

He he was waiting for someone to bring him his appointmentcalendar and did not realize Judge Sueyres had called the case.Petero did not have to go back to jail as a result of the warrant,Martinez said.

Officials with the Delta Youth Football League voted Wednesdaynight to ban Petero from coaching in the league or attending itsgames.