Two students were arrested in connection with an assault in Moncrief Hall in December, a TCU Police detective said.Detective Vicki Lawson said Matthew Hunter, a TCU student, and Bryce Hudman, a student at Southern Methodist University, turned themselves in the week before Spring Break after police issued warrants for their arrests.
On Dec. 4 at about 4 a.m., TCU Police Officer Brad Murphey responded to a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical confrontation in Moncrief Hall, according to a police report.
According to the report, one victim sustained cuts on his brow and right wrist after he was hit across the face and thrust into a glass door, and a second victim was bruised above his right eye and sustained a visible swelling on his right upper lip.
The victims’ names were not released.
In the report, Murphey described the crime as assault, which is a Class A misdemeanor.
If convicted, Hunter and Hudman could receive a maximum penalty of a $4,000 fine, up to one year in jail or both, said J. C. Williams, assistant chief of TCU Police.
Lawson said the assault investigation took months because she had to communicate with external sources after on-campus witnesses were unable to identify Hudman.
Lawson said after the suspects were identified, she met with the Tarrant County assistant district attorney who reviewed the case.
Justice of the Peace Gary Ritchie reviewed and approved the arrest warrant, and set a bond of $2,500, TCU Police Sergeant Kelly Ham said.
At this point, the case is out of TCU Police jurisdiction and is now being handled by the district attorney’s office, Ham said.
The case has been filed, and the next step are docket calls set for April 12 and April 20 at 9 a.m., said Sean Colston, Tarrant County assistant district attorney.
At the docket call, the attorneys will gather to decide if the case will go to trial, Colston said.
Ernest Rothfielder, Hudman’s attorney, said he thought the case would be dismissed.
“[Hudman] said he didn’t start [the fight],” Rothfielder said.
Rothfielder said if it is determined that Hudman initiated the assault, he believes that the sentence will be probation.
If it is established that Hudman acted in self defense, the case will be dropped, he said.
Bill Lane, Hunter’s attorney, was not available for comment.
Glory Robinson, associate dean of Campus Life, declined to comment on the victims’ welfare.
She said it is under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to keep the victims’ information confidential.
Any student found guilty of causing any form of bodily or emotional harm will be disciplined under the Code of Student Conduct, Robinson said.
Robinson declined to comment on the specific university disciplinary action being taken in the case.
Probation, suspension or expulsion is possible, according to the Code of Student Conduct.
