SEATTLE (AP) -University of Washington cornerback Jordan Murchison was released from county jail early Thursday on $10,000 bail after turning himself in for failing to appear in court on a felony assault charge.
He will remain away from practice and all team activities indefinitely, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said.
“We will make the appropriate decisions when we have all of the information,” said Willingham, 11 hours after Murchison was released.
When asked how long Murchison, a fifth-year senior, would be away from the Huskies, Willingham said: “Don’t know. So you could put indefinite, if you prefer that term.
“He will do nothing with the team at this time.”
Murchison was arrested and jailed Wednesday for failing to show up for a July 16 arraignment on a second-degree assault charge, which carries a possible jail sentence of three-to-nine months, said Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for the King County prosecutor’s office. Murchison’s new court date for arraignment is Aug. 16.
But Willingham said he may not wait for the legal process to run its course before deciding whether Murchison will remain on the team, let alone play in the season opener Aug. 31 at Syracuse.
Willingham said he learned Wednesday morning that Murchison missed his court date. He then met with the player and “went through the procedure that needed to take place to make sure everything was done the right way” to turn himself in to police.
“It’s amazing how things seem so simple, but maybe a college student was moving and maybe the address was not correct. There are a lot of things that could happen,” the coach said when asked why Murchison missed his court appearance. “No, I didn’t ask him about those things.”
In court documents, a detective said the assault took place on March 31 after Murchison’s girlfriend told him a man who was sleeping over at her house after a night of drinking had made unwanted advances to her.
The 6-foot, 184-pound Murchison told police he hit a man sleeping on his girlfriend’s couch “with like two or three good punches,” then was struck with a few blows himself before a friend broke up the fight, charging papers said.
Police said the man Murchison claimed he hit lost at least one tooth and may lose more since several others were cracked or broken.
Willingham said he knew in the spring of “an incident” involving Murchison.
“But there was no determinate as to charges or anything of that nature that unfolded,” the third-year Huskies coach said. “I always wait until I have all the information – or as much as you can. And at this time I still do not have all the information.”
King County Jail records show Murchison also was booked into the facility on June 5 on separate charges of domestic violence, assault and harassment. He was released about 36 hours later.
Willingham said he did not know about that incident until Wednesday. He said it “will be a factor” as he decides whether to let Murchison, who didn’t play in a game last year, back on the team.
“I do feel like I do need to be aware of what’s going on and the problems and things that are happening in their lives,” Willingham said.
“I think the young man is extremely remorseful. I don’t think he wanted these things in his life.”
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Associated Press Writer Elizabeth M. Gillespie contributed to this report.
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