Partial transcript from conference call with Jon Artz, Nikola Dragovic's attorney
Opening statement:
"We intend to enter a not-guilty plea at the arraignment. My client, just like everybody else, is presumed innocent. He is entitled to have a fair trial. They characterized the person who went into the glass as the victim. He was the aggressor, and there was heavy drinking."
On the situation:
"Dragovic left the floor, left the concert, and (the man) threatened my client by saying he had a knife and was going to kill him. (Nikola) thought he was defending the life of his friend. We intend to let the evidence speak. I've instructed my client to not talk to anybody, including the press."
On the status of the case:
"Let's wait until we see what the evidence is before they judge him. I would ask everybody to hold off in forming the judgment."
On UCLA suspending Dragovic:
"It's not my position to tell any other entity, including UCLA, my alma mater, how to conduct its business. Don't penalize this young man more than any other student. I think Dragovic was protecting his friend. He tried to retreat. He tried to leave the third floor. Let the evidence play out. He should be allowed to play. There's a presumption of innocence in our country."
On Dragovic's surprise arrest:
"After he went to (the UCPD), and I don't know the facts of how, he was under the impression that, 'OK, this was basically a bar fight,' and there were going to be no charges. Nikola was unpleasantly surprised when the LAPD went and got a warrant. Everyone originally thought this wasn't going to be a case.
"I spoke to Nikola a week or two weeks after the incident. He told me he'd gone to the UCLA PD and I said great, and didn't think anything about it."
On Dragovic's prior incidents coming up again:
"They haven't contacted me, but I think that incident is a dead letter. I can't speak for UCLA or city attorney, but I'm pretty sure it is. I don't think that old misunderstanding is going to read its head again."
On Dragovic's 2008 suspension on misdemeanor battery charges that were quickly dropped.
"I would ask anybody who's ever had a girlfriend or been married, have you ever had an argument? There was no physical touching, there was no case filed. To this extent that, 'Oh, these athletes are spoiled,' I would suggest to them that no criminal case was filed."
On the other party in the case:
"My understanding is he's about 6-5 and about 210 pound and approx 40. I look forward to finding his full name, to find out what he's willing to say."
First to say, this is a bogus charge now that some of the facts are known. Its just a bar fight, Drago shouldn't lose his ability to play basketball for coming to the aid of his friend. Who hasn't done this, come on district attorney, you are better than this.
This transcript is an abortion. Either Jon's speak-to-type software is garbage, or this attorney commands his words like lawyer john.
so lets be perfectly clear, the LAPD is in $UCs back pocket, their players routinely get into worse situations and skate. of course, they are going to press charges against a UCLA grad. its really pathetic...
Dang - How'd you guys see all the evidence already?
Let's just wait and see...
Good job Drago.
Did I hear my name being used over here?
First off, it is the criminal lawyers that began to give lawyers a bad name. Why does every lawyer say the same thing, lies or not, that his client is innocent? Just state that you intend to plead not guilty to the charges and that the facts will speak for themselves. When a lawyer stretches the facts, like in this Drago case, I presume he is guilty.
Read the L.A. Times full account of what was stated instead of the Reader's Digest version found here. It looks like a 2-on-1 fight, with Dragovich coming to the "aid" of his friend (translation: Dragovich sucker punched the 40 year old guy, causing him to strike and break some glass which resulted in a severed achilles tendon).
It is "only" a bar fight? There are hundreds of sorry souls in prison who were only involved in a bar fight.
If you strike another man your freedom is suddenly in jeopardy.
Perhaps this will put to rest whether SC or ucla has the monopoly on model citizens. Neither one does, both schools' athletes have a sorry history of misbehavior.
Shameful, really.
LAWYER JOHN
STRIKE TWO!
Lawyer John. Wow. Talk about model citizens. What are your thoughts on Mark Sanchez, Hershel Dennis, and Winston Justice who struck women, and received no real penalty and nothing but apologies from their alumni?
What are your thoughts on Matt Leinart's illegitimate child?
What are your thoughts on Reggie Bush's NCAA violations?
What are your thoughts on OJ Mayo's NCAA violations?
What are your thoughts on OJ Simpson's body count?
Drago appears to be a bad egg, guilty or not, by putting himself in these situations. But at least he gets suspended and has some sense of remorse.
Toledo had some bad eggs and some off the field issues and was fired for it, and that was cited in his dismissal.