| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
Brothers plead no contest for roles in videotaped youth sports brawl
Wednesday April 09, 2003WHITTIER, Calif. (AP) Two brothers pleaded no contest Tuesday to felony assault charges in connection with a videotaped brawl following a youth football game. Both were sentenced to prison.
``I think this case shows people that this type of behavior will not be tolerated,'' said prosecutor Joseph Porras. ``When parents act like this, it's bad for youth sports.'' Porras did not say whether the brothers were parents.
Joseph Saracho, 32, whose hometown was not given, pleaded no contest to one count of felony assault with the special circumstance of causing great bodily injury. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
Judge Dewey Falcone sentenced Gino Saracho, 26, to two years in prison after he pleaded no contest to one count of felony assault.
Both brothers were charged with assaulting the same man.
The victim, Desi Tubbs, is seen on the tape being knocked to the ground and then kicked repeatedly as he tries to protect himself from the blows. He was not hospitalized.
The brawl began after an Oct. 12 San Gabriel Valley Junior All-American Football Conference game in Pico Rivera. Witnesses said it started after two parents got into an argument over a play involving their children.
The videotape, made by a bystander, showed more than two dozen adults and children jumping into the free-for- all.
Tubbs complained afterward that people trying to break up the fight were singled out and attacked.
Joseph Saracho had also been charged with knocking down a 67-year-old assistant coach who was trying to break up the fight. That charge was dropped in exchange for his no contest plea.
The brothers were arrested Oct. 17 after authorities reviewed the videotape.
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