Author Archives: Andrew Parent

Arrest made in hit-and-run of lacrosse player

Posted on by
Robert Roberts, 18, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 22. | Courtesy Philadelphia Police

Robert Roberts, 18, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 22. | Courtesy Philadelphia Police

UPDATE: The 18-year-old male has been identified as Robert Roberts of North Philadelphia, the Inquirer reported. According to court records, Roberts is charged with leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a license, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 22.

Police arrested an 18-year-old driver Thursday suspected of striking Temple senior and lacrosse goalie Rachel Hall while she was riding her bicycle on Main Campus on April 29.

The incident, which occurred near 13th and Diamond streets, left Hall with severe head trauma and other injuries. Executive Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said on Thursday that Hall is still unconscious and in critical but stable condition at Temple University Hospital.

The North Philadelphia man arrested and charged with the incident was driving his father’s 2012 silver Mitsubishi Galant with a learner’s permit at the time, and told investigators he “panicked” when he fled the scene shortly after striking Hall.

Hall’s mother, Kathy Hall, has been posting daily updates regarding her daughter’s status since last Sunday night on a Facebook page titled “Rachel Hall Temple Strong.”

Via a post to the Facebook page, Kathy Hall attended the university’s Latin Honors Convocation and Temple Athletics ceremonies this afternoon in honor of Rachel Hall, who was scheduled to receive her Cum Laude graduation cord at the Latin Honors ceremony. The Mullica Hill, New Jersey native is a College of Liberal Arts student majoring in criminal justice.

Andrew Parent can be reached at andrew.parent@temple.edu or on Twitter @Andrew_Parent23.

Brick assaulter, 16, sentenced to prison

Posted on by

Zaria Estes, the 16-year-old girl convicted for striking a Temple student twice in the head with a brick last March, was sentenced Wednesday to 2 1/2 to six years in state prison, along with four years of probation and other conditions.

Estes pled guilty in October to aggravated assault, conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime with intent to harm. Along with the confinement, she will be required to pay $400 in restitution, serve 50 hours of community service per year of court supervision, complete her GED and secure employment before her sentence is completed.

In the proceedings at the Criminal Justice Center at 13th and Filbert streets around 1:30 p.m., Estes spoke to the court toward the end of the three-hour long session, apologizing to the victim, Temple junior Abbey Luffey, for the incident, and said, among other admissions, that she is “disappointed” in her actions.

Luffey was struck once each in the back of the head and in the face, respectively, needing multiple procedures to repair a fractured jaw and extensive oral damage.

Luffey, her mother and her 21-year-old boyfriend who accompanied her at the time of the attack, were among those who testified as character witnesses.

Andrew Parent can be reached at andrew.parent@temple.edu or on Twitter @Andrew_Parent23.

Trustees’ Athletics Committee holds first meeting of Fall 2014

Posted on by

The Board of Trustees’ Athletics Committee met in back-to-back sessions at Sullivan Hall Wednesday afternoon — a roughly 20-minute public meeting followed by executive session.

Athletic Director Kevin Clark said his department is searching for a new primary apparel vendor for the schools’ Division I programs. The university’s contract with Under Armour, which began in 2010, will run out after Fiscal Year 2015 ends on June 30, 2015.

“I’ve decided to take it to the market,” Clark told those in attendance. “Not that we’re dissatisfied with Under Armour, but … you have Adidas out there, you have Nike out there and to create that competition within those vendors will really help us get a better deal.”

In the meeting, Clark said the department will assess various vendors within the next 30 days, and will likely have one selected by the end of the 2014 calendar year. The new apparel contract will take effect starting July 1, 2015.

Clark also cited Temple’s increased television coverage with its football and basketball programs as reason to test the market.

“Under Armour’s been a great partner for us,” Clark told The Temple News after the meeting. “It’s always good to take to the market to see how competitive it is. … It’s a deadline I set, in a sense, so we have enough time to do an assessment. After 30 days, we get to go through our assessment and see what’s best for our department.”

Clark said that while he is shopping for other potential vendors, a potential contract renewal with Temple’s apparel supplier of the last four years is still a possibility.

“We have a great relationship with Under Armour and they see the movement,” Clark said. “They see that we’re doing things to take our program to the next level and they could be a major player in this deal.”

Other items discussed at the meeting included a fall sports review and a preview of the men’s basketball schedule.