Assaulting a Referee Could be a Felony
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State Senator Morris Hood III (D-Detroit) is the sponsor of legislation to make it a felony to assault an official or referee at a sporting event.
This legislation comes after soccer referee John Bieniewicz was killed by a player during a game in Livonia on June 29, 2014. Bassel Saad is facing charges of second-degree murder after he punched Bieniewicz resulting in death. Saads murder trial begins February 23rd.
The bill Hood is sponsoring would make it a felony punishable by up to three years in prison if a referee is assaulted.
Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) has sponsored similar legislation in the past and is looking forward to hearing a new proposal.