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Arlington football player faces charge in head-butting incident

E-mail|Link|Comments () October 30, 2009 06:25 PM

By Brian Benson, Globe Correspondent

A criminal complaint has been filed against an Arlington Catholic football player who allegedly head-butted an opposing player whose helmet had been knocked off in a football game last month.

James LaShoto, 17, is facing a charge of assault and battery stemming from the incident in which LaShoto allegedly hit Abington player Daniel Curtin.

A clerk magistrate in Cambridge District Court in Medford issued the charge today after a hearing attended by LaShoto and his family as well as his teammates from Arlington Catholic and Curtin and his family.

Curtin's mother, Paula Curtin, said no penalty was called on the play because the referees did not see the hit. The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association also has not gotten involved, she said. A video of the incident shows the alleged attack and has been shown by local media outlets and posted on the Internet.

"We see this as an appropriate venue. We're hoping that by doing this, this doesn't happen again to anybody," she said.

LaShoto was suspended for two games by Arlington Catholic, said his lawyer, Ronald Martignetti of Winchester.

Martignetti said that the suspension, which was formulated in conjunction with Arlington Catholic and Abington High School officials, should have been adequate and the matter should not have been taken to criminal proceedings.

"We see this as an unfortunate incident. I don't think this matter belongs in a criminal court. It should have been handled with school supsensions."

LaShoto's arraignment was slated for Nov. 30 at Cambridge District Court.