Michigan starter accused of St. Patrick's Day attack

Two Michigan football players were arraigned Wednesday on assault charges after police say they attacked a fellow student in a residence hall on St. Patrick's Day.
Carson Butler, 19, of Detroit, and Christian Richards III, 19, of Pacoima, Calif., are charged with one count each of aggravated assault, and assault and battery, said campus police spokeswoman Diane Brown. The aggravated assault charge is a one-year misdemeanor, while the assault and battery charge is a 93-day misdemeanor.
The players, both sophomores, were arraigned in Washtenaw District Court and released on $5,000 personal bonds pending a March 27 pretrial hearing, Brown said.
A 20-year-old Michigan student told campus police he was repeatedly punched about 6 p.m. Saturday in an acquaintance's dorm room, Brown said. The victim told police his attackers already were in the room when he arrived and that he did not know why he was assaulted, she said.
Brown said a fourth student in the room was not attacked and did not take part in the assault.
Police were called to the room, and the victim was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital emergency room where he was treated and released, police said.
School spokesman David Ablauf had no immediate comment on the arrests.
Butler, a tight end, started seven games for Michigan last season and caught 19 passes. Coach Lloyd Carr said last week Butler would not be with the team during spring drills, which began Saturday and end April 14.
Richards, a reserve defensive back, had five tackles last year.
In addition to the charges stemming from Saturday's incident, Richards has another case pending. He was charged with illegal entry on campus last year, The Ann Arbor News reported.
Richards failed to appear for his arraignment on that charge, and a bench warrant had been issued for his arrest.