Volleyball Player Charged

From the Associated Press:

Olympic silver medalist and former University of Hawaii All-America volleyball player Kim Willoughby pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of first-degree assault.

Circuit Judge Derrick Chan scheduled a trial for May.

Willoughby, 27, remains free after posting $50,000 bail.

A grand jury indicted Willoughby in September 2007 in connection with an incident outside the Pipeline Cafe in Honolulu on Dec. 16, 2006.

She is accused of intentionally or knowingly causing serious bodily injury to Sara Daniel, according to the indictment that was held under seal until Willoughby turned herself in last week.

"Anyone that knows Kim Willoughby knows that she's not a trouble maker," defense attorney Richard Hoke said outside the courtroom. "Unfortunately, she found herself in a situation where she had to defend herself, and she couldn't avoid that confrontation."

Deputy City Prosecutor Sherri Chun disagreed.

"This incident was not self-defense," Chun said. "She (Willoughby) followed her (Daniel) out of the club, and that's when this all happened."

Chun said Daniel suffered bone fractures that caused extensive pain.

The charge of first-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Jim Fulton of the city prosecutor's office said he could not disclose details of the case aside from the fact that the indictment stemmed from an altercation.

Fulton said Willoughby learned of the indictment while she was outside the country, contacted an attorney and agreed to surrender to authorities. In return, extradition wasn't sought, he said.

Willoughby, who plays volleyball professionally in Italy, was a member of the U.S. women's volleyball team that lost to Brazil in the finals in Beijing.

In 2001, Willoughby was charged in a domestic abuse case and eventually entered deferred guilty pleas to one count of abuse of a household member and one count of third-degree assault, both misdemeanors.

After completing court-ordered community service and writing a letter of apology to the victim in that case, the charges against Willoughby were dismissed.

Willoughby was a three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America and the 2003 AVCA national player of the year. In her career at Hawaii, Willoughby averaged 5.91 kills per game, which was third-best in NCAA history at the time.

By Tracee Hamilton  |  September 16, 2008; 9:00 AM ET  | Category:  Volleyball
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