Two Baylor Athletes Charged In Woman's Beating

WACO, Texas (AP) _ Two Baylor University athletes are accused of beating a woman in a park. <br/><br/>Sophomore Latara Shanica Darrett, 19, a guard on the basketball team, and sophomore Ashlee Genae Cooper,

Wednesday, September 5th 2007, 2:24 pm

By: News On 6

WACO, Texas (AP) _ Two Baylor University athletes are accused of beating a woman in a park.

Sophomore Latara Shanica Darrett, 19, a guard on the basketball team, and sophomore Ashlee Genae Cooper, 19, who plays volleyball, surrendered to police Tuesday and were arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault causing bodily injury, Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson said.

Darrett, of Chino, Calif., confronted a woman Aug. 8 in Cameron Park about an incident that happened earlier in the week, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

During the argument, Cooper, of LaPlace, La., punched the woman in the face, and the victim allegedly pulled out a knife to defend herself but then put it on the ground, the affidavit said. Darrett then jumped on the woman, the affidavit said.

Cooper and another woman kicked and punched the victim in the face as she and Darrett fought on the ground, the affidavit said. The victim suffered bruises, scratches and a chipped tooth from the beating, police said.

The other woman allegedly involved in the beating has not been charged, but Anderson said police could arrest more people.

Darrett and Cooper were released from jail Tuesday afternoon on personal recognizance bonds, Anderson said.

The Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Baylor spokeswoman Lori Scott Fogleman said basketball coach Kim Mulkey and volleyball coach Jim Barnes were not available for comment.

Fogleman said the law prohibits school officials from commenting about the case specifically. She said any discipline pertaining to athletic teams is handled by coaches.