| | Associated Press
WAUKESHA, Wis. -- Packers tight end Mark Chmura was charged
Monday with sexually assaulting his 17-year-old baby-sitter after a
night of drinking at a prom party.
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Students at party with
Chmura are disciplined
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WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) -- The students who attended a prom party at
which Mark Chmura of the Green Bay Packers was charged with sexual
assault have been disciplined by their high school.
Catholic Memorial High School president Bryan Van Deun said 19
students were at the April 9 party, some them drinking alcohol.
School officials spent the last three weeks interviewing each
student to find out who was drinking. The penalty for drinking is
suspension from extracurricular activities.
Van Deun declined to say Tuesday how many students were
disciplined. "Not everyone was drinking," he said. "The appropriate
sanctions have been levied."
Chmura, 31, is charged with sexually assaulting his 17-year-old
baby sitter in a bathroom. Robert Gessert, 43, held the party at
his Hartland home. He is also charged with sexual assault, accused
of fondling an 18-year-old woman in a hot tub.
Chmura was excused from a four-day minicamp that began Tuesday.
"I think you know the reason he is not here," said coach Mike
Sherman, who declined to comment on the charges. "He obviously has
other things in his life he is dealing with now."
Chmura's lawyer, Gerald Boyle, plans to ask this week to dismiss
the charges or separate the cases.
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The girl told police she was too drunk and shocked to fight him
off. "He is four times my size. What could I do?" she said,
according to a criminal complaint.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Chmura, accompanied by his wife,
appeared in Waukesha County Circuit Court and simply answered
"Yes, sir," when asked if he understood the third-degree sexual
assault charge.
Chmura later made a brief statement at a news conference in
Milwaukee, saying the last 30 days have been "hell."
"Frankly, I'm sick that the DA's office has charged me in any
way," he said. "I'm literally fighting for my life."
He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if
convicted. A preliminary hearing was set for May 30.
Chmura, 31, said he wanted to continue playing football, but his
lawyer said Green Bay excused him from voluntary camp this week.
Robert Gessert, 43, the party's host, was charged with sexual
assault for allegedly fondling an 18-year-old girl, and he also was
charged with supplying alcohol to minors. Gessert's lawyer, Martin Kohler, said his client denies any
wrongdoing in the incident.
Chmura was also charged with failing to prevent underage
drinking, a misdemeanor.
The charges stem from a party held at Gessert's home early April
9 after Waukesha Catholic Memorial High School's prom.
When police searched Chmura's home April 10, he said the girl's
name aloud and added, "How could you do this?" according to the
criminal complaint. Chmura also said he was being targeted because
of his status as a member of the Packers, the complaint said.
The 17-year-old girl told investigators Gessert and Chmura were
"extremely intoxicated" when they arrived at the home about 3:30
a.m. April 9, the complaint said.
Chmura signed autographs, had his picture taken and was
"showing off" to boys at the party.
The girl said she, the 18-year-old, Chmura and Gessert played a
drinking game for an hour and she got drunk. After the game,
Chmura, Gessert and several teens got into a hot tub outside
Gessert's home, the complaint said.
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| Chmura |
The 17-year-old girl told police she had changed clothes and
began walking down a hallway when she saw Chmura standing by the
doorway to a bathroom. She followed him after he motioned to her.
She said he took her hand and gently pulled her into the bathroom
where he allegedly assaulted her. She told police she didn't do or
say anything because she was drunk and in a state of shock.
She told police Chmura stopped when her friends pounded on the
bathroom door, calling her name. She grabbed her clothes and ran
out of the bathroom, she said. She later collapsed in an upstairs
bedroom, crying uncontrollably.
The complaint said the girl had known Chmura only briefly
because she baby-sat for his children.
Chmura and Gessert were ordered to have no contact with the
girls and witnesses named in the complaint. Assistant District
Attorney Dennis Kreuger said witnesses have received "intimidating
statements."
District Attorney Paul Bucher declined to elaborate, although he
did say the statements did not come from Chmura or Gessert.
Chmura's lawyer, Gerald Boyle, said he would not negotiate any
kind of plea bargain.
He criticized Bucher for including "everything but the kitchen
sink" in the complaint. He said he didn't know if there was
anywhere in Wisconsin where Chmura could get a fair trial.
"This case is almost like Dahmer," said Boyle, who defended
Milwaukee serial killer Jeffery Dahmer. "Everyone knows about
it."
Chmura, who went to Boston College, joined the Packers in 1992.
A fan favorite, he missed all but the first two games of last
season with a neck injury. The Packers selected tight end Bubba
Franks in last month's NFL draft. | |
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