Former Porterville High School wrestler Joe Soto’s athletic scholarship at an Iowa college will not be affected by his conviction and sentencing in Tulare County Superior Court on an assault charge.
Soto, named the top wrestler in 2004 by the Tulare County Wrestling Coaches Association, has become one of the top wrestlers for Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge even as he faced a charge back home of assault by force likely to create great bodily injury. The charge stemmed from claims that Soto hit another teenager, Paul Prescott, in the back of the head during a party on May 22, 2005, in Ducor. And while Prescott was on the ground, Soto continued hitting him in the face until other partygoers pulled him off, according to court records.
Prescott’s jaw was broken in several places, he had at least one tooth knocked loose and suffered a concussion, according to a sheriff’s deputy’s report.
While his case went through the court system, Soto was allowed to leave the state and attend the two-year college in Iowa, where he had a wrestling scholarship.
He pleaded no contest in June to the assault charge. On Friday, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Ronn Couillard suspended a five-year sentence and instead ordered Soto to serve a year in jail in Tulare County. But the judge is allowing the teenager to serve that time during his vacation breaks from college.
“The people did object to that,” said Carol Turner, assistant district attorney for Tulare County. “We believed that he should do straight time, but we understand the judge’s consideration that he is on scholarship.”
Turner added Monday that in retrospect, having come back to Tulare County during his summer, holiday and other breaks to sit in jail until he finishes out his sentence may end up being more “onerous” for Soto than doing straight time.
Besides the jail time, Soto was sentenced to five years probation.
As for his status as a wrestler at the Iowa college, wrestling Coach Luke Moffit said Soto has not only been a top wrestler, becoming an All-American last year, but a good student and a team leader. He said to his knowledge Soto doesn’t smoke or drink, gets to practice early and keeps up with his studies.
“If I was gone, I wouldn’t trust anybody to lead other than [Soto],” said Moffit. “There’s no way I’m going to punish him for something he did before he got here.”
But the Tulare County conviction could still have an impact on Soto’s future as a wrestler, Moffit added. “Joe’s got some good Division 1 schools looking at him already. I don’t know how they’ll look at him for this [conviction], but a lot of them will take my word for it.”
# The reporter can be reached at dcastell@visalia.gannett.com.
Source: www.visaliatimesdelta.com
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