NORRISTOWN >> For what prosecutors called “unsportsmanlike conduct” a Philadelphia man faces court supervision and a ban from a Lower Pottsgrove sports facility for assaulting two referees during an adult league basketball game.
Donnell Robinson, 24, of the 3900 block of J Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to time served to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of assault on a sports official in connection with the November 2016 incident at the 422 Sports Complex in Lower Pottsgrove. The judge gave Robinson credit for three months he served in jail while awaiting court action.
Judge Gary S. Silow also ordered Robinson to complete one year of probation following parole, meaning Robinson will be under court supervision for about three years. Robinson must complete 15 hours of community service and the judge banned him from the sports complex located at 1400 Industrial Blvd.
“It was definitely unsportsmanlike conduct,” said county Assistant District Attorney Scott Frame. “He had just finished a game in which he had been fouled out. He was upset with the referee.
“He then approached the referee and basically sucker-punched him from behind,” said Frame, adding Robinson then punched a second referee who came to the aid of the initial victim who reportedly was knocked unconscious.
The incident occurred about 9:51 p.m. Nov. 20, 2016, as the referees were gathering their belongings after the game. Robinson “walked up behind one of the two referees and punched him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and lose consciousness,” according to the criminal complaint filed by Lower Pottsgrove Police Officer Christopher DiPiano.
“When the other referee tried to intervene, Robinson started to punch that referee all about the face and head several times. Robinson was pulled off of the referee by other players and then fled the building,” DiPiano wrote in the criminal complaint.
When police arrived at the scene, they found the two referees holding ice packs to their faces. One referee told police that Robinson had played earlier in a game but had several fouls during the game and did not play most of the last half.
“However, Robinson remained at the game, pacing back and forth as the game progressed,” DiPiano said.
When the game ended and the referees were walking to the sideline to gather their belongings, Robinson walked up behind one referee, reached around and punched him in the face causing the referee to fall to the ground and lose consciousness, police alleged. Robinson then attacked the second referee who tried to aid his fellow referee.
The referee who lost consciousness could only recall that he was punched and then awoke on the floor. In addition to losing consciousness the referee suffered a swollen chin and cheek.
The second referee suffered abrasions and swelling to his right cheek and eye area.
Police obtained a video that recorded the incident. Witnesses, including team members, identified Robinson as the assailant.
The victims were sports officials overseeing an organized athletic activity and both were wearing official PIAA referee uniforms identifying themselves as referees, police said.
Frame said the victims were satisfied with the outcome of the case.
“He’s been banned from the 422 SportsPlex. He’s not allowed to come back there. That’s a condition of the sentence,” Frame said about Robinson.
