News

D.A. dismisses charge against WHHS basketball coach

By Bill Moss, Published: January 11, 2018

District Attorney Greg Newman has dismissed the simple assault charge filed against West Henderson High School men’s basketball coach Joey Bryson, saying a video of the incident with an opposing team's player failed to show a push that the player's mother had alleged.

The charge was initiated by a North Henderson player following the game at West Henderson on Dec. 15. West Henderson won the game in overtime. Following the game, the North student and his mother went to the magistrate’s office and caused the criminal charge to be issued against the West Henderson coach.  A court date of Jan 26 was scheduled.   

“I will not prosecute cases against teachers that have not been properly and thoroughly vetted by law enforcement,” Newman said. "I  reviewed video footage of the reported incident and I saw no evidence of any crime being committed by Coach Bryson. What I saw was that Coach Bryson was conferring with one of his players while a foul shot was taking place. The  North Henderson player encroached upon their space and the coach flung the hand of the North player away. 
The charging document issued by the magistrate accused the coach of 'pushing” the player.' I did not see any evidence of pushing.   Contact was definitely made by the coach, but it does not rise to any type of criminal action."

The District Attorney went on to say that, “there were at least two sheriff’s deputies at the game who did not believe that any crime had occurred.  They were engaged with removing an irate fan from the center of the basketball court.  Also, I find it significant that the referees did not call a technical foul on the West Henderson coach or bench."

Newman added that he has explained his decision to the complainant’s mother and that the matter is under review by school system administrators.