The Albemarle County General District Court handed six-month jail sentences to two individuals involved in the Feb. 1999 assault of then fourth-year students Jonathan Dean and Cabral Thorton.
Former University football defensive back Adrian Burnim and non-University student Kevin Cromartie, who was visiting the University when the incident occurred, both received the sentences for their involvement in an assault and battery incident that occurred Feb. 7, 1999. Both Burnim and Cromartie also will have to pay about $2,000 in court costs.
The incident took place behind Thornton Hall following a dance held in Newcomb Hall.
The assault on Dean and Thorton also involved University running back Antwoine Womack and two other University football players, John Duckett and Devon Simmons. Womack was convicted of assault and battery in Albemarle County Circuit Court December 16 and was fined $1,000.
Burnim and Cromartie were convicted partly because of Simmons and Duckett's testimonies, said Ann Potter, Cromartie's attorney.
Duckett and Simmons made a deal with prosecuting attorney Steven Buck to receive lessened charges, Potter said.
In exchange for their testimonies, Simmons and Duckett received one consolidated misdemeanor charge of assault and battery, a 30-day suspended sentence and community service hours, Potter said.
"The whole incident was blown out of proportion," Burnim said. Six months in jail "is a harsh penalty for a simple fight. I don't hold any harsh feelings towards John [Duckett] and Devon [Simmons] for testifying. I just want to forgive and forget and put it behind me," he said. Burnim also said he is unsure whether he will appeal the sentence.
Before Wednesday's trial, Burnim and Cromartie both had requested a new trial, but Albemarle General District Court Judge Paul Peatross denied the request, according to court documents.
Peatross decided there was no new pertinent information which would warrant another trial, Potter said.
Burnim's attorney Denise Lunsford could not be reached for comment. Dean, Buck, Simmons and Duckett could not be reached for comment.
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