Tampabay.com
NOVEMBER 03, 2008

Ronnie Wilson facing more legal trouble

GAINESVILLE - Florida lineman Ronnie Wilson's latest suspension from the team stems from an altercation he was allegedly involved in following the Gators' Oct. 4 victory over Arkansas.

A sworn complaint has been filed against Wilson, charging him with one count of assault and one count of battery, concerning the incident that allegedly happened around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 5 - hours after Florida defeated Arkansas 38-7 in Fayetteville. Both are misdemeanor charges.

According to the Gainesville Police Department incident report, Wilson became involved in a "verbal altercation over a female at a birthday party'', which was held at the Lexington Crossing apartments in Gainesville. Wilson allegedly hit one of the victims with a closed fist while inside the party.

According to the alleged victims, Wilson then followed them outside and confronted them in a breezeway near the apartment where the incident began. Wilson attempted to punch the victim again, the report says, but instead hit a second victim as she tried to step in between them; she suffered a broken wrist. Wilson then attempted to hit a third victim who came to assist the others. According to the report, the third alleged victim stated he "was in fear for his safety due to the size of the defendant.''

Wilson is listed on the UF roster as 6-foot-3, 309 pounds.

Wilson was identified in a photo lineup by all three alleged victims, the report states. A fourth person, who was not involved in the altercation, also identified Wilson.

Wilson was a heralded recruit who was part of the offensive line that helped the Gators to a national championship in 2006. He was expected to be one of the team's best lineman the following season, but trouble derailed that. He was suspended in 2007 after firing an assault rifle into the air during an altercation in which he said he had been followed from a nightclub and feared for his safety. He was placed on two year's probation and given 100 hours of community service, but court records indicate the probation was terminated this past April after a judge ruled he had fulfilled his obligations.

After paying his own way for classes at UF during the spring and summer semesters, Wilson was allowed to rejoin the team this past August, but UF coach Urban Meyer said there was little room for error with Wilson.

Last week, Meyer acknowledge that Wilson was not practicing with the team. "We have some expectations and he's got to meet them,'' Meyer said. "He's not practicing. He's got to take care of some business. He did not elaborate further.

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