Wednesday, September 08, 1999

Former UC star a no-show in court

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Again, Wingfield wanted by police

BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        Former University of Cincinnati basketball star Dontonio Wingfield is again a wanted man.

        A judge issued a warrant for Mr. Wingfield's arrest Tuesday when the former UC player failed to show up to hear his sentence for assaulting two police officers.

        It was the second time this year that Mr. Wingfield failed to appear for an important court hearing.

        His attorney, Hal Arenstein, said Mr. Wingfield told him last week that he planned to drive to Cincinnati late Monday from his home in Georgia.

        Mr. Arenstein said driving is difficult for his client because he recently suffered a severe back injury in a car accident. “He's in a lot of pain physically. He can't drive for long periods without stopping.”

        He said he received a call Tuesday from one of Mr. Wingfield's friends, who told him the former UC star was having car trouble but still planned to make it to court.

        Late Tuesday morning, however, Mr. Wingfield still was missing.

        Judge David Davis issued a warrant for his arrest and ordered him held on $100,000 bond.

        Mr. Wingfield, 24, pleaded guilty in June to aggravated assault and assault on a police officer. He faces up to 2¹/₂ years in prison.

        The assault charges stem from an incident last year at his girlfriend's apartment. Police were called after Mr. Wingfield allegedly knocked over a table during an argument.

        After the officers arrived, police say, Mr. Wingfield grabbed his girlfriend's arm and then struggled with the officers. One of the officers suffered a broken finger.

        Mr. Wingfield, of Albany, Ga., was a forward for UC during the 1993-94 season. He left school and entered the NBA draft after his freshman year.

        Although he was a second-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers, he was waived by the team last year and has not played professional basketball since.

        Mr. Arenstein said Mr. Wingfield is out of work and had surgery earlier this year to fuse four vertebrae.

       

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