McGill Redmen football player acquitted of assault, uttering threats charges
A McGillRedmen university football player charged with assault and uttering threats in Montreal last fall has been acquitted.
Luis-Andres Guimont-Mota was found not guilty on the spot in court today after his wife, involved in the case, withdrew her complaint against him.
Guimont-Mota, 23, was arrested in September 2014, following an incident involving his wife.
He was released on bail.
Guimont-Mota, who was the Redmen’s star running back, was suspended from the team by the university administration after it learned of his arrest and a prior conviction for assault in Quebec City in 2010.
The business management student was awarded the team's 2013 Dan Pronyk Memorial Trophy for most outstanding offensive player.
McGill said at the time Guimont-Mota should never have been permitted to join the team — a statement which prompted Redmen football coach Clint Uttley to resign in protest.
Guimont-Mota always maintained he was unfairly accused in the case and that he was the victim, not the assailant.
Uttley told CBC he's pleased with today's outcome in court.
"[McGill] got it wrong from the beginning. I’m not going to take pot shots at them because it’s already cost them their head player and their head coach and who knows what else it’s going to cost them, but I’m just happy for Luis," he said.
Free to rejoin team, McGill says
McGill Deputy Provost Ollivier Dyens said Guimont-Mota can rejoin the team if he wishes to do so.
"He's free to return to the team, and then it all depends on the coach at that point, like any student athlete," he said.
Dyens told CBC he still stands by his statement that Guimont-Mota should have never been allowed to join the Redmen given his 2010 conviction.
"We believe that playing on a varsity team is a privilege not a right. As a student, he kept all his rights. Mr. Guimont-Mota was able to continue his studies, but as a varsity athlete he's representing the university, like any student athlete, and our expectations are higher."
Dyens said the university is working together to move foward now.
"We had a long discussion with the coaches...Both sides miscommunicated, and we're building bridges."
