Pettis arraignment scheduled for Oct. 8

By Eddie Hughes

Suspended Fresno State basketball player Terry Pettis has an Oct. 8 court date after being arrested last week on suspicion of vandalizing his former girlfriend’s car and apartment and hitting her the day before, according to the police report.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s office has not yet filed its charges in the Pettis case but is expected to do so Friday or Monday, Pettis’ attorney, Ernest Kinney, said.

The case is still under review, according to Assistant District Attorney Don Penner.

Kinney said the Oct. 8 hearing will be an arraignment if the charges have been filed or a continuance if they have not. The deadline for the District Attorney’s Office to file charges is Oct. 8, Kinney said.

Pettis, 19, could face a felony vandalism charge if the District Attorney’s Office determines that the damage was more than $400.

Fresno State coach Ray Lopes suspended Pettis indefinitely from all basketball activities last week. The sophomore guard will be dismissed from the team if he is convicted of a felony because of the university’s policy for student-athletes.

The policy requires a suspension if Pettis is charged with a felony but not convicted.

The police report said there was a dent on the hood of the 2000 Honda Civic belonging to Pettis’ former girlfriend. It said there was also a dent on the left rear panel and the right rear view mirror was broken off. A bedroom window of the former girlfriend’s apartment was also broken.

The victim said Pettis hit her once the day before the vandalism incident, according to the police report, but no injuries were visible on the former girlfriend’s back.

Kinney said Pettis apologized to both the former girlfriend and the university and that the accusations are not being heavily disputed.

“ There’s not really a dispute,” Kinney said. “There was some damage to a car. We’re not arguing the facts over it.”

Kinney said a relatively quick plea might be entered after the Oct. 8 court date.