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Man to spend 6 years in prison for 2014 assault of ODU rugby players

Posted at 3:40 PM, Aug 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-12 16:14:08-04
Chris Slade

Chris Slade

NORFOLK, Va. – A man will spend the next six years behind bars for his involvement in an assault on three Old Dominion University rugby players in November 2014.

Chris Slade was arrested on November 18, 2014, 16 days after the assault on Malicious Wounding charges.

In 2014, ODU Rugby team coach Mike Herron told News 3 that a group of people who were not a part of ODU or ODU students, tried to get into a party team members were having. When they were denied entry, one of the suspects picked up a chair and threw it at the window, shattering it.

Michael Rigual

Michael Rigual

ODU Rugby players went outside to see what happened and that’s when they said they were attacked by the suspects.

ODU rugby captain Michael Rigual was beat up so badly, his father, Roly Rigual told News 3 that his jaw was broken, he had blood in his lungs and five teeth were either knocked out or had to be removed.

Slade was found guilty and sentenced on two charges:

  • Malicious Wounding While Part of a Mob – sentenced to 15 years with 9 years 6 months suspended, conditioned upon 15 years uniform good behavior, indeterminate supervised probation upon release, restitution to be determined, and no contact with victims.
  • Malicious Wounding – sentenced to 6 years with 5 years 6 months suspended, conditioned upon the same terms as above.

He will spend a total of six years in prison.

Previous coverage:

Teen pleads guilty to attacking 3 ODU Rugby players

Man charged in November assault at ODU Rugby party pleads not guilty

Victims testify at court hearing for man charged in November assault at ODU Rugby party

Father of ODU Rugby player brutally attacked: “We figured he was safe, I guess I was wrong”

ODU Rugby players injured in fight near campus; man says son is improving